People endured day after day in the scorching summer until finally reaching the Beginning of Autumn. However, the phoenix tree leaves hadn’t fallen yet, the sun remained strong, cicadas still buzzed restlessly, and bedsheets still stuck to one’s back upon waking. During such an autumn, Shen Shaoguang wasn’t in the mood to “put on autumn fat.”
After enduring a few more days into Late Heat, the sky turned cloudy with a slight breeze, finally showing hints of an “autumn atmosphere.” Shen Shaoguang perked up and announced she wanted to eat “pancakes with fried eggs.”
She had specific requirements: the pancakes must be thick with seven or eight layers inside, not the thin spring pancakes. No leavened dough, no meat filling, no salt and pepper, no pickled Chinese toon sprouts, not too many green onions… For egg-wrapped pancakes, those were all “heretical doctrines.” The pancakes should only contain salt and oil, so they won’t overshadow the wrapped ingredients’ flavors.
Yu San laughed at her demands: “Then should the fried eggs only have salt? Or should we fry just the whites or just the yolks?”
Shen Shaoguang joked in internet-era style: “Eggs and green onions are the perfect match. Fried eggs without green onions have no soul.”
Yu San scoffed, “Soul…”
Shen Shaoguang pondered, “Wrapping grilled lamb skewers in pancakes is also nice, or fried meatballs, fried quail eggs, fried eggplant… hmm, crispy fried small fish and shrimp would be good too. Our braised pig ears and face meat would also be great wrapped up.”
Yu San didn’t even bother to scoff this time.
Shen Shaoguang realized she had gotten carried away. Seeing Princess Yu San’s expression, she quickly backtracked: “Let’s stick with egg wraps, egg wraps…”
A Yuan and A Chang burst out laughing.
Shen Shaoguang felt she had no dignity as a proprietress.
At lunch, Shen Shaoguang finally got her pancakes wrapped with everything and successfully ate until stuffed. Early customers saw her eating and ordered the same. Word spread, letting Tang Dynasty people properly experience Late Heat – “dumplings for First Heat, noodles for Second Heat, pancakes with fried eggs for Third Heat.”
Watching customers in the hall gracefully or heartily eating pancake wraps thicker than their arms, Yu San truly had no complaints left. While eating spring pancakes in spring was about trying something fresh, what was so special about wrapping various meats, eggs, and vegetables in pancakes now? Was it really necessary?
Shen Shaoguang smiled behind the counter watching the customers she had successfully recommended to, her gaze passing over someone particularly elegant and composed, reminding her of Deputy Magistrate Lin. She wondered what sight it would be to see the refined Deputy Magistrate Lin munching on a big pancake wrap.
Recently Deputy Magistrate Lin seemed quite busy, often coming to sit a while only after dinner when the tavern was about to close. Shen Shaoguang guessed he was busy with the Emperor’s autumn sacrifice and rumors in the capital. When he came at such times, despite her mischievous nature, Shen Shaoguang couldn’t serve pancake wraps, and could only steam a bowl of honey milk custard or more simply serve a peach yogurt drink.
While days passed peacefully in the small tavern, the atmosphere outside grew tense. Word spread that many frogs had died in the Toad Ditch in the northwest of the city, causing much discussion among capital residents. Grain prices kept rising at granaries, with some shops only opening for half days and posting notices about stock shortages. People feared not being able to buy grain and lined up outside granaries. It reminded Shen Shaoguang of scenes of salt hoarding in her previous life.
A Yuan asked, “Miss, shouldn’t we store more grain? I heard people saying ‘Bingxu blazing hot, Dinghai difficult times ahead.’ Isn’t this year Bingxu? Will something happen next year? Will there be nothing to eat?”
Shen Shaoguang had already stored enough grain in the back storage room when rumors first started, enough for the tavern to use for two months, but wasn’t worried now – surely the court could handle this in two months? If not, chaos would likely break out, and storing more grain would be useless and might even invite disaster.
Shen Shaoguang comforted A Yuan: “Silly child, there aren’t so many prophets. Though this year is hot, rainfall has been decent. The fish seller Qu said summer harvest was fine, autumn harvest should be alright too, so put your mind at ease.”
Hearing the Miss’s reasonable words, A Yuan stopped worrying; A Chang never worried about anything, only following the Miss’s lead; Yu San had already asked when Shen Shaoguang stored grain over half a month ago, and now seeing grain prices rise in the capital just as she predicted, shook her head and went to busy herself in the kitchen.
On the last day of Late Heat, fine rain began falling outside with a slight breeze, bringing comfortable coolness.
The usually cold-faced Yu San looked at the sky and rarely remarked, “Autumn rain brings autumn cool.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled – autumn rain already? She guaranteed it would still be scorching hot once the sky cleared.
Yu San glanced at her, and Shen Shaoguang quickly restrained herself. Yu San recalled her mention of “putting on autumn fat” days ago and suddenly said, “Today’s a good day for gaining that fat.”
Seeing how Princess Yu San appreciated today’s cool rain, to make her happy, Shen Shaoguang smiled and said, “When the meat seller comes, I’ll see if there are pork knuckles and stew them for you all.”
As if meant to be, there were indeed knuckles today, fresh and large and fatty. Shen Shaoguang kept both.
While cleaning the pork knuckles, ward runners outside beat gongs and posted government notices at ward gates and major street intersections. After soaking the knuckles in clean water, Shen Shaoguang washed her hands, took an umbrella, and went out to look.
Oh! They had caught those who created the prophetic rumors!
The culprits were Daoist priests from Xuanzhen Temple. The abbot Qingxu was a “high priest” who came down from Mount Zhongnan. He had fabricated the prophecies and had his disciples spread them, then had people poison frogs, attempting to stir up public unrest. According to his disciples, the next step was to poison wells and use sorcery to create disasters, then Qingxu would step forward to “dispel disasters and drive away evil” to gain fame and fortune.
“It was him!” The crowd burst into an uproar.
Unable to squeeze into the front, Shen Shaoguang listened to people’s explanations from behind.
“Looking so otherworldly, who knew he was such a person! At Minister Lu’s banquet, he was an honored guest. This Daoist seems familiar with many officials.”
“You don’t know, but his temple was an old mansion donated by Inspector Han.”
Beyond explanations, there were more curses.
“This dog priest is truly despicable! Creating disasters for personal gain!”
“It wouldn’t be unjust to arrest and execute them all. People have been so anxious lately, turns out it was all their doing.”
“Damn them! How much trouble they’ve caused! To be honest, I haven’t even stocked new goods, considering whether to take my family back to Shannan Circuit to avoid disaster.”
Some praised the Emperor, “Thanks to His Majesty’s wisdom and enlightenment, with heaven’s protection over our Great Tang, these villains’ schemes couldn’t succeed.”
Naturally, some were more discerning, “The notice bears the Capital Prefecture’s seal. The Capital Prefecture handled this case well!”
“The Deputy Prefect lives in our ward, that gentleman is so handsome, who knew he would be so upright and resolute…”
Shen Shaoguang returned after hearing various comments and continued preparing her pork knuckles.
In Shen Shaoguang’s view, the neighbor’s praise for Deputy Magistrate Lin was probably not wrong. Because Lin’s superior, Prefect Bai of the Capital Prefecture, was a famous old fox. When Uncle Chu visited recently, he mentioned this “old friend’s” past while drunk, saying he had been seeking posts away from the capital these years to avoid court disputes, but unexpectedly was brought back to serve in the trouble-prone Capital Prefecture.
This prophecy case had no movement at first, then storm-like suddenly arrested the “high priest” who had quite a reputation among the gentry. Such bold and iron-handed action probably wasn’t done by this old fox. Moreover, for Deputy Magistrate Lin to do this, who knows how much persuading he had to do with Prefect Bai? And that “make it known” notice… Shen Shaoguang recalled Deputy Magistrate Lin’s words that day.
“That gentleman is so handsome, who knew he would be so upright and resolute…” Indeed, and he seemed to be a man of his word too.
However, the notice seemed to have some inconsistencies. Could a group of Daoist priests have such power to disturb the capital’s peace? Going to such lengths and risking execution just to sell some talismans for fame and money? This didn’t quite align with the economics of crime.
Shen Shaoguang shook her head and changed another basin of clean water to soak the pork knuckles.
Since this wasn’t for a banquet but just family meals, both knuckles were chopped into pieces, making them quicker and easier to cook, season, and color when stewing.
Seeing the meat was properly soaked, she blanched it in cold water to remove impurities and blood, brought it to a brief boil, then removed and drained it.
She put oil in the wok, added plenty of sugar, and when the sugar bubbled, threw in the blanched knuckle meat, stir-fried it, then added some clear sauce and yellow wine, threw in green onions, and ginger along with a spice bag containing cassia bark and dried tangerine peel, and began stewing.
Smelling the rich meat aroma filling the kitchen, Shen Shaoguang looked outside through the open window. The rain seemed to have gotten heavier. Under the eaves, A Yuan was feeding several stray cats. The little creatures didn’t seem very hungry, eating rather elegantly. Shen Shaoguang suddenly felt a sense of happiness. Social stability was wonderful – better to be a cat in prosperous times than a human in chaos.
Shen Shaoguang thought of the grain in her storehouse, realizing she had stored too much. If she had known Deputy Magistrate Lin would act so swiftly, she could have bought less. In this weather, grain easily grew moldy…
Lin Yan came again at the tail end of lunch but was truly lucky – because of Shen Shaoguang’s restrictions on A Yuan and A Chang, there was still a bowl of knuckle meat in the clay pot, so Deputy Magistrate Lin got to eat the Miss’s personally cooked feast.
A bowl of fragrant rice, a plate of red, tender, and soft knuckle meat, along with several light dishes like a lily bulb with Chinese celery, crystal shrimp cakes, and stir-fried lettuce – Lin Yan ate with great enjoyment.
Shen Shaoguang came to ask: “Would the gentleman like winter melon meatball soup or vegetable tofu soup?”
Lin Yan smiled, “Vegetable tofu soup, please.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded: “Adding some preserved meat bits will make it flavorful.” Just as she was about to turn and leave, she heard Deputy Magistrate Lin ask, “Today’s meat tastes slightly different from usual.”
Shen Shaoguang turned back, “Is that so?”
Seeing her expression confirmed his guess, Lin Yan’s lips curved up, “It’s very delicious.”
Though just a few simple words, Shen Shaoguang seemed to hear some sentiment in them, lightly coughed, and said: “Then eat more, it’s for putting on autumn fat, hehe.”
“Alright,” Lin Yan smiled.
Shen Shaoguang turned back to the kitchen to make soup, discovering that her willpower bar dropped particularly fast when facing Deputy Magistrate Lin…
Hearing Deputy Magistrate Lin say “delicious,” A Yuan, peeling beans behind the counter, thought to herself, “Of course! The Miss cooked it herself, how could it be the same? Yu San is still better with fish and lamb.” A Yuan felt resentful again, “The Miss clearly said this pot of knuckle meat wasn’t for guests, and said she’d save what’s in the pot for me to eat tonight… Liar!”
Shen Shaoguang brought out the vegetable tofu soup just as Lin Yan had nearly finished eating.
She ladled a small bowl of soup for him and, remembering the morning’s events, said, “This morning they posted notices in the ward saying they caught those who spread the rumors. That’s wonderful.”
“That Daoist priest was indeed caught and the investigation revealed some things, but—” Because of their previous long conversation, Lin Yan didn’t hide it from her, “This case isn’t that simple.” The notice was mainly posted to “pacify the people.”
Shen Shaoguang understood his meaning. In the capital region, stability was paramount. Wasn’t peace and stability what common folk like them sought? Shen Shaoguang smiled, “When I said the world was peaceful and Chang’an prosperous and tranquil that day, I wasn’t just being polite. It’s truly fortunate to live under the governance of gentlemen like you.”
Meeting her sincere gaze, Lin Yan paused for quite a while before saying, “Thank you.”
Outside, rain pattered steadily; inside, the calico cat curled up sleeping soundly, while behind the counter A Yuan crackled away peeling beans—all was peaceful.
Late Heat’s intensity had finally waned as time entered the seventh month. After days of overcast rain, the weather truly cooled down. In the autumn rain, Shen’s entered “flower cake season.” With the reputation of the Top Scholar flower cakes, this year’s Qixi Festival flower cake orders were particularly numerous.
Regarding this autumn rain, sentimental people said it was the Cowherd and Weaver Girl crying in heaven. A scholar wrote “Cui Mei Er – Qixi,” with a preface saying “In the seventh month’s endless autumn rain, tasting exquisite Qixi flower cakes at Shen’s tavern in Chongxian Ward, moved by the tale of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, thus composed this piece.”
“…Before parting words were spoken, years passed before meeting again, separated lovers’ regrets grow heavy. If only one heart could be in two places at once, in the rustling rain, in the distant wind.”
Shen Shaoguang sighed, what a melancholic verse, and personally brought ink and brush, inviting the scholar to write it on the poetry wall.
Having learned to write, A Yuan was now sensitive to characters and asked Shen Shaoguang to explain what it meant. Shen Shaoguang explained it to her.
A Yuan shook her head: “That Cowherd coerced the Weaver Girl, he’s not a good person! Now I just hope that Hu person’s whatever demon disease that the Weaver Girl has gets better soon.”
Shen Shaoguang: “…”
Shen Shaoguang reflected, had she murdered A Yuan’s maiden heart? She should be more careful about making things up in the future.
Shen Shaoguang didn’t know her made-up stories had reached another person’s ears.
Deputy Magistrate Lin remained busy, mostly coming to sit a while when the tavern was about to close, having a bowl of fruit yogurt drink or such before leaving. Shen Shaoguang figured that although suspects in the prophecy rumor case had been arrested, there must be plenty of follow-up matters, plus there was the Emperor’s Mid-Autumn sacrifice. This year was the late emperor’s full anniversary, and the current emperor would personally go to the imperial tomb for worship. When the Son of Heaven left the capital, it naturally couldn’t be a small affair—the Three Departments, Six Ministries, Nine Courts, Five Directorates, Capital Prefecture, and Prefectures along the way, none could remain idle.
Only once did he come in mid-afternoon, when all four at Shen’s were working overtime making flower cakes.
To enrich the flower cake varieties, Shen Shaoguang had made several new sets of molds, including ones of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl—the original was a bit too large, making cakes that easily broke.
Looking at the Cowherd and Weaver Girl cakes made from the new molds, Lin Yan seemed to mutter to himself, yet also seemed to be asking Shen Shaoguang who was about to take away a tray: “Shouldn’t such a miscreant be exiled? Why make new ones?”
Shen Shaoguang looked at him—really? Had he overheard? Or was it just a coincidence?
Seeing her expression, Lin Yan smiled, then said after his smile: “You’re right, that Cowherd deserves exile.”
Shen Shaoguang: “…” Unable to hold back, she also laughed.
In comparison, Young Lord Shao was much more adorable than Deputy Magistrate Lin when encountering the same scene. He even brought gifts—flower cakes from Guixiang Garden. A small seasonal courtesy gift, both polite and thoughtful.
Moreover, Young Lord Shao truly knew how to speak. Seeing piles of flower cake boxes and all four people working at full capacity, he exclaimed dramatically, “Business is so good here, Miss, I’m jealous!”
Shen Shaoguang grinned, stopped her work, and personally brewed tea, putting both their own flower cakes and those Shao Jie brought on a plate to have tea and snacks together.
Shao Jie truly enjoyed chatting with Miss Shen, but unfortunately, since she was a woman, some things had to be avoided.
“I’ve finally finished my term at the cake shop, and now I’m managing the grain shop,” Shao Jie told Shen Shaoguang about his recent situation.
From downstream products to upstream—was this a promotion? Shen Shaoguang smiled, but thinking of the Shao family’s large grain shops in the East Market, and their reportedly dedicated grain transport ships on the river, it should indeed be a promotion.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and asked: “With Young Lord Shao’s capability and efficiency, you must be managing the grain shop very well?”
Shao Jie smiled somewhat proudly: “Indeed, it’s going well.” Then added, “Though it’s mainly thanks to the Capital Prefecture’s help.”
What did this have to do with the Capital Prefecture? Shen Shaoguang was puzzled.
“During the recent rumors, besides that frog business, didn’t they also say ‘Bingxu blazing hot, Dinghai difficult times ahead’? Many grain merchants took advantage of the situation, hoarding goods and driving up prices, and many went to Jiangnan and other places to procure grain. Who would have thought one notice from the Capital Prefecture would clear things up.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded: “Young Lord Shao must be one who didn’t hoard goods or drive up prices.”
Shao Jie smiled: “Naturally. We’ve been Chang’an people for generations, we have that much integrity.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded: “Indeed!”
The two foxes both laughed.
Shao Jie smiled: “They were too greedy, otherwise they wouldn’t have been so blind.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded again, “Money blinds people.”
“Miss isn’t in our grain trade, so you might not know, but after the notice was posted, several big grain merchants still wanted to hold out. The Capital Prefecture directly opened the Ever-Normal Granaries to sell grain at fixed prices…”
Shen Shaoguang nodded, this subtle approach… seemed very familiar.
“Not only that, the Capital Prefecture also gathered grain merchants to discuss industry matters, commended us ‘righteous merchants,’ and selected Zhou Rugu, the owner of Zhou’s Old Grain Shop, as ‘guild head,'” at this point, Shao Jie smiled, “I even got mixed in as an ‘assistant.'”
Shen Shaoguang hurried to congratulate him.
Shao Jie waved it off with a smile: “Wait until I become guild head to congratulate me.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled: “Young Lord Shao shouldn’t expect to get fat from one meal, besides, you’re too young, it’s not good to get fat from one meal.”
Shao Jie laughed heartily.
After his laughter, Shen Shaoguang sighed: “So those who hoarded goods lost both face and profit.”
Shao Jie nodded: “They’re all terrified now. Losing some money is a small matter, they can still recover, but they fear being remembered by the Capital Prefecture. Even the Market Commissioner looks at them differently.” The Market Commissioner was the official in charge of market commercial transactions, the merchants’ immediate superior.
“Though Capital Prefect Bai who only showed his face once was quite amiable, Deputy Magistrate Lin maintained his usual solemn quietness.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded. Grain was the lifeline of national economy and people’s livelihood. After such administrative and economic measures, the grain trade should stay quiet for a long time, right? Capital Prefecture, well played.
These matters of “those who eat meat planning it,” Shen Shaoguang only chatted about briefly with friends and thought over when idle. Her main energy was focused on the flower cake business. By the afternoon of the seventh day of the seventh month, the large flower cake orders had all gone out, and the people at Shen’s could finally rest a bit.
Looking at the slanting wind and fine rain outside, Shen Shaoguang rubbed her hands sore from work and smiled: “You must be tired of smelling flower cakes by now? Shall we eat something else tonight? How about cold noodles with shredded eel? Or dry-fried eel strips?” There was half a bucket of eels in the kitchen.
Because the current emperor loved cold noodles with shredded eel, many nobles in the capital had developed a taste for it. Once summer arrived, eel prices went up. But after Beginning of Autumn, the palace observed seasonal customs and stopped eating cold noodles, so eel prices came down, allowing common people to feast on them.
A Yuan considered for a moment: “Let’s have cold noodles.” The Miss’s cold noodles with shredded eel were too delicious.
A Chang also nodded, while Yu San had no preference either way, busy cleaning the flower cake molds.
By evening, due to the weather and festival, the shop had very few customers, only about ten, including five or six familiar faces and a table of five unfamiliar customers.
The regulars came early, while the five unfamiliar customers arrived at dusk. Hearing Shen Shaoguang mention excellent eels, one of the new customers asked: “Can you make vinegar-braised shredded eel?”
Another who seemed to be their leader frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.
Shen Shaoguang smiled apologetically: “I’m afraid not, would you like to try dry-fried eel strips? They’re crispy and perfect with wine.”
Hearing her say “cannot,” the leader’s brow actually relaxed: “Then dry-fried eel strips it is, and just pick some of your shop’s specialties for the other dishes.”
Shen Shaoguang listed several signature dishes and asked what wine they wanted.
But that person shook his head.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and said “Please wait a moment,” turned around, wrinkled her nose, and returned to the kitchen to report the order to Yu San.
Although these customers didn’t drink wine, they ate until very late. After Shen Shaoguang saw off two other regular customers, she returned to the kitchen to make dinner for their own people. While using a small knife to slice eel strips, she slightly furrowed her brow—those customers outside… Shen Shaoguang felt her persecution complex acting up again.
“Miss shopkeeper—” the customers called from outside.
Shen Shaoguang raised her voice to answer, “Coming!”
“What can I do for you, customers?” Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile.
Unexpectedly, the customer sitting at the edge suddenly stood up and reached to grab Shen Shaoguang’s shoulder.
Shen Shaoguang, who did physical work year-round, was quite agile, and having some subconscious wariness, actually managed to step back and dodge.
A Yuan, who was clearing bowls and plates nearby, exploded with a speed that didn’t match her build, two plates flying with soup towards the customer. The one who tried to grab Shen Shaoguang instinctively dodged, missing again with his grab. The other customers also moved, while Yu San and A Chang heard the commotion and came out from the kitchen, instantly turning into a chaotic fight.
These five people’s target was clearly Shen Shaoguang. Yu San blocked for her, “Run!” while spinning the large knife used for chopping ribs in his hand, striking one person’s neck, who fell with a thud.
Shen Shaoguang knew she would be a hindrance and obediently ran, shouting “Thieves!” as she ran, but due to the bad weather and late hour, nearby shops had already closed, and there were few people on the street, so no one came.
A Chang helped with a rolling pin but was kicked against the wall by one of the thieves. As that thief was about to stab A Chang with his sword, A Yuan smashed a large soup pot on his head, instantly causing him to crumple to the ground bleeding.
The leader of the five thieves and another hawk-nosed one got past Yu San, with Hawk-nose grabbing Shen Shaoguang’s shoulder while their leader put his sword to her neck: “Nobody move!”
Yu San, A Yuan, and A Chang, caught in a dilemma, dared not move.
The three thieves took Shen Shaoguang hostage and retreated to the inner hall where they had been sitting, with the three staff members following, facing off against them.
Shen Shaoguang forced a laugh: “Good sirs, if you have something to say, let’s talk about it, no need for this. If you need money, take whatever’s in the counter. If that’s not enough, there’s more in the back residence.” She called out, “A Yuan, A Yuan, go get the silver box from the back!”
“Don’t move!” The leader moved his sword and used his arm to choke Shen Shaoguang’s neck, commanding in a low voice.
Shen Shaoguang coughed a couple times: “Sir, be gentler, we can talk this through. If you kill me, we’ll both lose everything, how unprofitable would that be?”
The leader did loosen his grip a bit.
Shen Shaoguang then knew he indeed wanted something, wasn’t purely antisocial, and probably wouldn’t kill her immediately.
“Tell your people to drop their weapons!” the thief demanded.
At this point, Shen Shaoguang became brazen: “Then you might as well strangle me.”
“You think I won’t dare?” As the leader spoke, he tightened his grip, instantly making Shen Shaoguang’s face turn red as she couldn’t breathe and her legs kicked wildly.
The thief loosened a bit: “Drop your weapons!”
Shen Shaoguang gasped for air but still managed a smile, “This isn’t how you do business. If we all drop our weapons, we’ll be like fish on a chopping board, at your mercy to cut as you please. That’s not how business works. Sir, just say what you want—as long as we can survive, we’ll comply.”
A Chang’s hands had been trembling, constantly looking at Yu San and A Yuan, but hearing the Miss’s words, he gripped his rolling pin tighter.
The bandit leader pondered for a moment, first gesturing Hawk-nose to check on the two fallen injured men, finding one dead and one unconscious. The leader glanced at Yu San, who expressionlessly held his cleaver. Hawk-nose bolted the shop door from inside and tore some undergarment cloth to bandage his unconscious companion’s wounds.
The leader loosened his arm around Shen Shaoguang: “The Miss is truly crystal-hearted, no wonder she’s gained Deputy Magistrate Lin’s favor.”
Shen Shaoguang forced a laugh: “Just luck, just luck.”
The leader curled his lip: “I wonder if such a brave and clever Miss could get Deputy Magistrate Lin to discuss business with us? Take something of his, let the one with the wooden stick deliver it to Lin’s residence, invite him to come!”
Given this rare chance to “call for help,” Shen Shaoguang’s mind raced, wondering how to get the message across. If only Deputy Magistrate Lin were also a transmigrator, she could squeeze an SOS in jam on the cakes.
Or perhaps create an acrostic poem? But that would be too obvious—the bandits would see through it, and if it wasn’t obvious enough, Deputy Magistrate Lin wouldn’t notice either.
Better to work with classical allusions, hoping these men weren’t the type who could both kill with swords and compose poetry… she’d have to take that gamble.
Shen Shaoguang smiled: “I don’t have anything of his, but I can write him a note.”
Just as Shen Shaoguang was contemplating her “emergency message,” someone knocked at the door.
The leader gestured for Shen Shaoguang to speak, and she called out: “We’re closing early today, we’re praying to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl for skills. Please come another day.”
Footsteps outside receded.
The two bandits guarding the door walked back, when suddenly “bang!”—the door was forced open.
Two attendants and Deputy Magistrate Lin stood in the doorway.
Shen Shaoguang smiled bitterly, just three people… she wondered about Lin and his attendants’ fighting capabilities.
The bandit leader smiled: “Perfect, saves the Miss from having to send a letter.”
Lin Yan walked in slowly, “What do you want?”
“We only ask the Deputy Magistrate to write an order allowing my men to visit an old friend in prison.” The Daoist priests were currently being jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, and Capital Prefecture, held in the Capital Prefecture’s prison, not yet transferred elsewhere.
“Rest assured, Deputy Magistrate, we’ll only speak briefly, your men can accompany us.”
Lin Yan looked at the leader, nodded: “Alright.”
The leader hadn’t expected this high official in crimson robes to be so agreeable, and was somewhat startled.
“Anything else?” Lin Yan asked coolly.
“Naturally, we ask the Deputy Magistrate to facilitate our exit from the city.” The leader promised, “Once we’re out, we’ll release the Miss.”
Lin Yan looked at Shen Shaoguang. She wasn’t sure if this was what he meant, but called out pitifully: “Lord Yan—I’m scared—”
Though Lin Yan knew she was acting, his heart still felt squeezed.
Looking at her deeply, Lin Yan sighed a lover’s sigh, saying somewhat helplessly: “Why trouble a woman like this? Besides, in your condition,” Lin Yan looked at the injured one, “how can you leave the city?”
The leader frowned slightly; actually, he had planned to temporarily leave his injured companion hiding in the city, though it would be better if they could take him along.
“How about this—I’ll exchange places with her. There’s no court tomorrow, I’ll personally escort you out of the city,” Lin Yan said.
This time the leader was truly shocked. The two attendants glanced at their master, even Shen Shaoguang was stunned for a moment. Yu San looked at Lin Yan, pressed his lips together, gripping his cleaver tighter, while A Yuan focused intently on the arm choking her Miss.
Lin Yan slightly furrowed his brow, showing some of a superior’s impatience, “Well?”
The leader felt there must be a trick, but the temptation was too great—with Deputy Magistrate Lin in hand, they could plan so much more…
The situation allowed no time for detailed thinking. The leader gritted his teeth, swallowed, and said “Fine! Remove your sword!”
Lin Yan wore his official robes today, carrying the official sword matching his rank—officials’ swords were ceremonial, many had never even been sharpened. Lin Yan removed his sword, casually threw it at his feet, and slowly walked towards the bandits: “Release her.”
The leader pushed Shen Shaoguang away, with Hawk-nose pressing her to walk this way, while the leader focused intently on pointing his long sword at Lin Yan, another bandit watching everyone else.
However, unexpectedly, as Lin and Shen crossed paths, Shen Shaoguang stumbled into Lin Yan’s arms, crying out: “Lord Yan—”
Lin Yan held the fragrant softness in his arms, but his hand now held something about two inches long, half an inch wide, thin and sharp.
Hawk-nose pointed his sword at Shen Shaoguang: “Move!”
Lin Yan glanced at Hawk-nose. Though he was a desperate criminal, he still feared Lin’s authority and pulled his sword back slightly. Lin Yan said softly: “Go.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded and walked towards Yu San.
Yu San pulled her behind him protectively, while the leader’s sword rested against Lin Yan’s neck.
Lin Yan regarded the sword as nothing and knelt down to sit.
Seeing this, the leader relaxed—to a warrior, a sitting position was the least threatening posture.
The paper and brush prepared earlier for Shen Shaoguang to write the letter were on the table. Lin Yan directly took them up.
Just over ten characters were quickly written. Lin Yan held up the paper’s corner, turned his head to look at the leader, “Take this and follow my attendant Liu Chang to the prison, don’t say much.”
The leader’s face lit up with joy as he bent down to take the paper, but that smile froze on his face as fresh blood sprayed from his neck onto the table, paper, and Lin Yan.
This sudden change startled Hawk-nose, who had been guarding nearby. He raised his sword to stab Lin Yan. Lin Yan rolled sideways, throwing the blood-covered blade at Hawk-nose while drawing the dagger from his boot.
The two attendants had already rushed forward with swords, joining the fight.
Yu San and A Yuan protected Shen Shaoguang as they retreated outside.
The reinforcements the coachman had called from the residence had also arrived. Earlier that day, there had been a grand banquet at the palace, after which Lin Yan had been busy at the Capital Prefecture for half a day before returning. Passing by Shen’s in his carriage, he saw lights burning inside with closed doors in this light rain—she who constantly complained of heat, actually wasn’t taking advantage to get some cool air?
Also, with the prophecy case weighing on his mind, Lin Yan felt uneasy and went to knock on the door. Hearing her say something about praying to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl for skills, he knew something was wrong—she who wanted to “beat the Cowherd until he cried for his mother,” how could she pray to them?
The ward runners patrolling at night also rushed over, though because of the rain they hadn’t patrolled as diligently, and trouble had occurred… Seeing the Capital Prefecture’s token, the ward runners fell silent as frost, not knowing what had happened.
Lin Yan wiped his dagger clean with a handkerchief and lifted the curtain to come out. He first glanced at Shen Shaoguang surrounded by Yu San and the others, then turned back to instruct his attendants. The attendants loaded the two captured alive onto carriages, while others went to carry the bandits’ bodies, and some went to reprimand and instruct the ward runners.
Lin Yan walked over. The wind lantern under the eaves cast a dim yellow light, but he could still see her face was somewhat pale, her hair disheveled, her shoulders so thin, her waist not even a handful—in this autumn night’s wind and rain, she looked quite pitiful.
Lin Yan strongly resisted the urge to embrace her. Such a bright and even somewhat domineering person had suffered greatly today because of him. If he had come a moment later… Lin Yan dared not think of it.
“I…” Lin Yan could write thousand-word essays and argue logically in court debates, but facing his beloved Miss at such a moment, he couldn’t find words.
“These bandits had the smell of incense and spirit money about them, perhaps picked up earlier at the Daoist temple. Because they’ve been hiding these past days without changing clothes, it can still be smelled; there’s also the smell of preserved meats…” Shen Shaoguang said seriously.
A good cook usually has a good nose. Shen Shaoguang didn’t consider herself a very good cook, but she did have a good nose. However, the smells on these bandits were too mixed—heavy body odor mingled with rain… Shen Shaoguang hadn’t distinguished them at first, only subconsciously feeling something was wrong. Just now under the corridor, thinking carefully, she finally distinguished these two most meaningful scents.
Lin Yan sensitively caught the key points in her words, “Preserved meats?” At this time of late summer and early autumn, ordinary households didn’t keep many preserved meats, unless…
Shen Shaoguang nodded, “Our shop has quite a lot.” Of course, the bandits’ recent hiding place could also have been the storehouse of some wealthy official who enjoyed good food. Shen Shaoguang trusted Deputy Magistrate Lin would think of this point.
Shen Shaoguang continued with the next suspicious point: “One of the bandits wanted to order ‘vinegar-braised eel strips,’ a common household dish in the Northern Capital, not famous, but Northern Capital people often eat it in summer.” This was mentioned in Master Yuanjue’s “Book of Pancakes”—Northern Capital people often ate vinegar-braised eel strips over cold wheat noodles.
“When I said I couldn’t make it, that big-bearded leader seemed relieved.”
…
Shen Shaoguang told Lin Yan all the points she found suspicious about these bandits.
Listening to her systematic narration, looking at her eyes bright as morning stars, Lin Yan smiled. My Dear Qi, even in such an autumn night’s wind and rain, you shine like spring scenery.
Lin Yan needed to go question the prisoners through the night. His attendants had already loaded the prisoners and bodies onto carriages, ready to depart.
Lin Yan instructed Shen Shaoguang: “Be careful these days, I’ll leave some guards with you.”
Shen Shaoguang instinctively wanted to refuse.
Lin Yan said softly: “Listen to me!”
Shen Shaoguang looked up, met his worried gaze, and finally nodded.
Lin Yan looked at Yu San, A Yuan and the others in the distance, then turned back to Shen Shaoguang: “I’ll go first.”
Shen Shaoguang stood silently watching him leave. He was actually rather thin, should belong to the elegant-as-bamboo type, but perhaps because of his height and broad shoulders, or perhaps because his bearing was too upright, walking away with such large strides, he seemed able to shoulder all this night’s darkness and storm.
Shen Shaoguang suddenly felt reluctant to part, then couldn’t help mocking herself—no wonder the hero-saves-beauty was a classic pattern, and no wonder they say old patterns capture hearts… She really wanted to just throw caution to the wind and pledge herself to him.
Author’s Note:
Lin Yan five minutes ago: My Dear Qi is weak, helpless, and pitiful, I want to hold her…
Lin Yan five minutes later: Oh, my Dear Qi is still so fierce (slowly withdraws hand)