True to her word, Shen Shaoguang took advantage of the two-day closure to visit the slave market. Among all these slave traders, though there were people as far as the eye could see, finding a suitable one wasn’t so easy—tall and healthy, skilled in martial arts, seemingly reliable temperament, clean background…

After a full round, she only managed to buy one called Zhang Duo.

This Zhang Duo was also brought in by slave merchants from other regions. In his twenties, though not “broad-shouldered and ten feet tall,” he appeared quite robust, seemingly even taller than the already tall Junior Governor Lin and Yu San. He claimed he used to travel with his previous master as a merchant, and knew some martial arts, but because his master died and the young master was too young, the lady closed the business and sold off extra people, returning to the countryside to manage their property—he answered one question at a time, a man of few words, not the tsundere type like Yu San, more like naturally tongue-tied.

Lin’s servant Zhou Kui, who accompanied Shen Shaoguang, tested him a couple of moves and bowed to Shen Shaoguang, “Reporting to Young Miss, he’s passable.”

Those assigned by Lin Yan to protect Shen Shaoguang were naturally his capable people—noble household servants who regularly accompanied the Capital Prefecture’s Junior Governor naturally carried themselves differently. The slave merchant, seeing the Young Miss brought such servants, thought she wouldn’t possibly be interested in his “merchandise,” yet surprisingly, the deal was made.

Zhou Kui didn’t understand why the madam—no, Young Miss—wouldn’t let them provide protection and insisted on buying more servants—perhaps it was a lady’s reserve?

Wonder when would Master marry the Young Miss? With Young Miss around, Master seemed especially gentle and approachable… If Young Miss were to manage the household, the food would surely improve even further…

Pei Fei had the same question, “Since you’ve set your heart on her, why not propose?”

Lin Yan pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Pei Fei seemed to realize something, “Don’t tell me you proposed and the Young Miss refused?” A schadenfreude smile spread across his face.

Lin Yan gave him a sidelong glance.

Hahahahaha… so even you, Lin An’ran, have such a day! Pei Fei now didn’t mind his earlier “showing off” at all.

With the Ghost Festival approaching, the Emperor left the capital to personally pay respects at the former Emperor’s tomb. Neither Lin Yan nor Pei Fei went along—Lin Yan held an important position in the Capital Prefecture and shouldn’t leave, while Pei Fei’s rank wasn’t high enough to be part of the entourage.

After seeing off the Emperor, the farewell officials returned. Pei Fei, mingling with Lin Yan, asked if they would visit the City God Temple outside the city together on the Ghost Festival to pay respects to Lord Cui.

But Lin Yan said: “I have other plans that day.”

Pei Fei didn’t react immediately, “Then shall we go on the sixteenth?”

“I’m on duty both the fourteenth and sixteenth.”

Pei Fei looked at him, then this year—

“I’ll still go on the Ghost Festival day itself.”

Pei Fei suddenly remembered meeting Young Miss Shen outside the city last year, “You’re not going to accompany—”

Lin Yan smiled slightly.

Seeing his manner, Pei Fei seemed to smell something sour, tsk! Tsk!

Now knowing his proposal had been rejected, Pei Fei immediately felt refreshed and was in the mood to guide him again, “Let me tell you, An’ran, who goes to pay respects to their future father-in-law with their fiancée? Though Young Miss Shen seems broad-minded, you shouldn’t be so careless, especially—” Pei Fei raised his eyebrows, she’s not even your fiancée yet.

Lin Yan slightly furrowed his brows, “It’s mainly because of the recent incident, I’m worried about her going out of the city alone.” With the Emperor away, the Capital Prefecture and remaining Imperial Guard were even stricter. Lin Yan could only manage to free up this one day.

Being so clueless about ladies’ feelings, Pei Fei now felt Young Miss Shen’s rejection was reasonable…

Lin Yan, meanwhile, thought he should explain to A’Ji about Lord Cui and Cui Ning.

Shen’s Tavern reopened with a new look, even advertising discounts on the sign at the door, seeming to draw even more customers than before.

Last year, someone saw Shen’s special ritual offerings of cakes and honey supplies at Guangming Temple, so this year people came to order. Though this honey supply business wasn’t as prosperous as the flower cake business, it still earned Shen Shaoguang some extra money.

With last year’s experience, this year’s honey supplies improved in both form and taste. Using milk, honey, eggs, and flour as main ingredients, filled with various stuffings like red bean paste, sesame, date paste, and peppered salt, they were steamed, fried, or baked into various shapes with auspicious patterns, piled layer upon layer, quite magnificent and presentable.

Smelling the sweet fragrance of the honey supplies, Shen Shaoguang thought, that if spirits could truly enjoy these offerings, they would probably be satisfied. After all, this was an era where even cherries needed sugar syrup, and lamb dishes were expected to be dripping with oil with every bite.

Whether the spirits were satisfied or not, the customers certainly were, some even planning to order for the Winter Solstice and New Year ceremonies, saying “How grand this is!”

Master Yuanjue was also satisfied, “Last year, they heated the leftover pastries on the stove to eat. Jinqing thought they were tasty and gave me a milk-honey pastry, which I ate with clear tea—it was especially good!”①

Shen Shaoguang truly liked this old lady who could appreciate both refined delicacies and common street food, who had traveled thousands of mountains and waters yet kept her heart pure. If not for her worldly nature, always thinking about buying property to become a landlady, she would have become the old lady’s disciple. Every day discussing Chan and sutras with the old lady, making tea and pastries, and when older, traveling around…

Lin Yan didn’t know his Young Miss had thoughts of becoming a nun and was waiting in the tavern.

When Shen Shaoguang returned with A’Yuan who carried trays and food boxes, she saw Junior Governor Lin sitting alone by the window.

“Is my lord’s office leisurely today? Coming so early.” Shen Shaoguang went forward to greet him. Since the prophecy case, Junior Governor Lin rarely came in the afternoons, and after that incident, it seemed days since she’d seen him leisurely drinking alone under the paper windows. Was it because the Emperor-boss was away, so those staying behind were slacking off? Probably not, managing the Capital Prefecture, he should be busier.

Lin Yan smiled, “It’s fine.”

Shen Shaoguang nodded, if you say it’s fine then it’s fine, “Is my lord hungry now? Would you like a proper meal or some snacks?”

Seeing her polite manner, Lin Yan pressed his lips together, “A’Ji, I have something to tell you.”

Two days ago when he called her “A’Ji,” because the following words were more shocking, Shen Shaoguang had ignored this form of address, but unexpectedly, this became the start—whenever there were no outsiders, he would keep calling “A’Ji” “A’Ji.”

If this were in her previous life’s open era, let alone calling her A’Ji, even calling her “dear” wouldn’t matter—maybe he just liked the Taobao style? But now, his calling her childhood name was too intimate.

Shen Shaoguang had a feeling that Junior Governor Lin seemed to treat the “proposal” past tense as past perfect tense, as if having proposed meant the proposal was successful, Junior Governor Lin had such a domineering CEO style…

Shen Shaoguang sat opposite him, holding Ming Nu who was lying at her feet, petting the cat while listening to him speak.

“Are you going out of the city for the Ghost Festival? Let’s go together?”

Shen Shaoguang slightly furrowed her brows, remembering meeting Pei Fei last year, could Junior Governor Lin have been there too? She smiled and said: “Last year I did meet Lord Pei, is Lord Pei going too? It would be nice to have company.”

Lin Yan took a sip of his drink and said: “He has matters to attend to, he’ll go another day.”

Shen Shaoguang nodded, and after brief consideration, agreed to Lin Yan’s suggestion. She naturally understood Lin Yan’s intention in suggesting going together, but with their current relationship, and times not being particularly peaceful, living in the same district yet deliberately avoiding each other, only to meet there… would be too affected. Going together was fine.

Seeing her agree, Lin Yan smiled, his eyes corner curving beautifully.

Shen Shaoguang now felt his smile wasn’t like spring mountains with new green, but more like the sky clearing after autumn rain, sky blue but not glaring, sun warm but not fierce, with a slight pleasant breeze… Seeing him smile like this, Shen Shaoguang felt her agreement was worth it.

“There’s another matter—” Lin Yan hesitated somewhat, when facing her, talking about Cui Ning proved quite difficult.

“When I go outside the city, it’s to pay respects to Lord Cui, who was like a teacher to me.”

Shen Shaoguang understood, that Minister Cui. Thinking of Minister Cui naturally made her think of Young Miss Cui, so, Junior Governor Lin was…

“I was once betrothed to Lord Cui’s beloved daughter,” Lin Yan pressed his lips together, “but actually—I was more familiar with Lord Cui and the young lords of the Cui family.”

Shen Shaoguang raised her eyebrows.

“A’Ji, you are the only woman I’ve ever truly loved and cherished,” Lin Yan said softly with a very solemn expression.

Shen Shaoguang’s hand movement became heavier, and Ming Nu in her arms expressed displeasure with a swipe of its paw.

Author’s Note: ①Mr. Tang Lusun’s description of how old Beijing pastries were eaten: heated thoroughly on the stove, stuffed with Baoding-style smoked chicken intestines, on a winter night, more satisfying than any plain porridge and small dishes.