Shen Shaoguang opened her eyes wide.
Lin Yan watched her with a smile.
Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes again, “Yes, I do often meet and talk with Princess Fuhui. The Princess is quite an interesting person.”
Lin Yan just looked at her without speaking, and Shen Shaoguang didn’t continue either, lowering her head to eat crab.
After a while, Lin Yan said gently, “Ah Qi, may I send someone to propose marriage?”
Shen Shaoguang, having just begun to master the art of flirting, still felt somewhat awkward and gave a dry laugh: “If love is meant to last long, why would it need a marriage contract, don’t you think?” After a moment, she added a term of address, “Yan Lang.”
Lin Yan continued picking at his crab, surely that unrestrained and eccentric Princess had said something to her! Thinking of the Princess’s past lovers, Lin Yan’s expression grew increasingly unsightly – who knew what else she might have told Ah Qi…
Shen Shaoguang glanced at his expression, “—Yan Lang?”
“Mm.” Lin Yan responded expressionlessly.
Shen Shaoguang felt relieved – he still accepted this form of address, meaning things hadn’t gone badly.
“No.” Lin Yan directly crushed her fantasy.
Shen Shaoguang: “…”
“Love is like a bird, marriage its nest. Love without marriage is like a bird without a nest – how can it exist in this world?” Lin Yan looked at her seriously.
Faced with such moral interrogation, Shen Shaoguang felt somewhat embarrassed.
Lin Yan softened his expression and said gently: “Ah Qi, we will marry eventually.”
Shen Shaoguang finally understood the Princess’s helplessness – Deputy Minister Lin and Young Master Pei being friends made sense after all. I just wanted some hugging and embracing, some intimate moments, a romance that wasn’t purely platonic, and of course, if there were other things as the Princess mentioned… that would be – quite nice too. Since you won’t agree, let it be then.
However, her mouth automatically said: “Speaking of birds, we have excellent quail today. Autumn quails eat lots of grass seeds and grain, they’re very plump and best for roasting. Would you like to try some? They’re roasted until fragrant and crispy, wrapped in flatbread – perfect after eating crab! Then we can follow with a bowl of crab shell soup.”
“Master Lin probably hasn’t tried crab shell soup before. We boil milk soup, throw in some crab shells that you’ve picked clean, add chopped coriander and pepper powder, best with some crumbled bread or noodles, mm, fragrant! Don’t think it’s too crude, there’s a folk saying ‘Original soup dissolves original food,’ which makes perfect sense. Most importantly, nothing but this bowl of crab shell soup can properly finish off such a meal.”
Shen Shaoguang’s mood recovered quickly – there were plenty of nestless birds in this world, so why make such a fuss? What’s wrong with just dating? Li Bai even said ‘Life should be lived in full joy, don’t let the golden cup face the moon empty’!
Seeing her smiling face and hearing her culinary expertise, it was clear she hadn’t taken his words to heart. Lin Yan felt quite a headache – the Princess was truly trouble!
Lin Yan ended up eating the flatbread-wrapped fried quail she mentioned and drinking the so-called “original soup dissolves original food” crab shell soup.
Shen Shaoguang asked: “Isn’t it delicious?”
Lin Yan nodded graciously, “Indeed it is.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled proudly. Everything seemed to return to the starting point, but things were different now.
That evening, when Lin Yan dined with Madam Jiang, he only had a little porridge.
Madam Jiang didn’t urge him to eat more. After the meal, maids brought tea, and grandmother and grandson sat together digesting while talking.
“Has Young Lady Shen agreed to you yet?”
Lin Yan shook his head.
“Don’t need Grandmother to step in?”
Lin Yan shook his head again.
“No wonder the young lady doesn’t fancy you, being so reserved.” Madam Jiang thought for a moment, “Tomorrow wear several bright clothes. These everyday robes of yours aren’t even as good-looking as your official clothes.” Madam Jiang carefully examined Lin Yan – though her grandson was rather reserved in nature, his appearance should be to young ladies’ liking.
Lin Yan: “…”
“Virtuous maidens fear persistent suitors, but persistence has its methods. Just going there to eat won’t work – she’ll just think you like the food there.”
“Young Lady Shen manages her household alone, she’s a decisive person, but no matter how decisive, she’s still a young lady. All ladies love to hear sweet words, don’t be shy about it, you should praise her more. Not just now, but after marriage too, you should praise her often.”
“Praise her cooking, her conversation, and when you’re more familiar, praising her beauty is fine too…”
Lin Yan coughed awkwardly, “Grandmother—”
Madam Jiang sighed lightly, “At this rate, when will I get to drink tea served by my grandson’s wife?”
Lin Yan apologetically stood up and brought the digestive tea to the Madam.
But Madam Jiang became optimistic again: “Though I often get confused, I don’t have any major ailments. Perhaps I’ll even get to see my great-grandchildren grow up. I wonder if they’ll be as chubby as you were as a child.”
After sitting with his grandmother for a while longer, Lin Yan returned to his courtyard.
After he left, the maids helped the Madam change clothes and wash up.
Maid A Su said: “Why does Young Master need to go through all this trouble? Isn’t it always parents’ command and matchmakers’ words? Just send a matchmaker directly.” That Young Lady Shen was just being shy, how could she refuse? With her family background, meeting someone like Young Master was a great fortune.
“Everyone has their ups and downs in fortune. Family background is the most unreliable thing, you never know when it might fail and scatter.”
A Su complained: “Madam, how can you say such discouraging things? Young Master is still to be enfeoffed and become Prime Minister.”
Madam Jiang waved her hand, “Of course, I know my grandson is good. What I’m saying is, compared to family background, a person’s character and nature are more important.”
“I see that young lady is neither proud nor discouraged, seems lively and easygoing, yet steady; my grandson is rather reserved, but not a completely dull wood. These two, they could make a life together.”
A Su smiled: “You’re always the best at judging people.”
“Most importantly, he likes her himself.” Madam Jiang sighed slowly, “Nothing can compare to one’s feelings.”
Back when arranging his father’s marriage to his mother, they only looked at matching family backgrounds and appearances, who could have imagined the two would be like frost to each other? One seemed carefree and unrestrained but was stubborn, the other solemn but thought too much. Later when the elder son’s official career wasn’t smooth, he chose to travel to Jiangnan to avoid A Qin and happened to encounter the river embankment breach…
Ah, it’s all fate…
Seeing Madam Jiang’s expression, A Su smiled and persuaded: “The way Madam speaks of her, I also think Young Lady Shen is good. Why doesn’t Madam help Young Master? Young Master eating four or five meals a day will turn a graceful young gentleman into a stout man.”
Madam Jiang smiled slightly: “After marriage, he’ll probably eat even more. Ah Yan is destined to become a stout man.”
A Su laughed.
“Young couples, this is their fun. Let them play, we needn’t interfere.”
Seeing the Madam’s mood had improved, A Su and others chatted with her a bit more, served her sleeping medicine, tucked her in bed, lowered the curtains, lit incense, left only one corner lamp, and all others withdrew. Two-night attendants also lay down on their beds, one inside and one outside.
When Lin Yan went to Shen’s again and didn’t see Shen Shaoguang, he knew she was at the tavern in Qinren Ward, but didn’t know she had also entered the Princess’s mansion.
The Princess’s beloved cat had indeed died, and she had fallen ill due to the season’s influence. Extremely bored at home, she sent servants with an invitation to Shen’s, and Shen Shaoguang brought a personally stewed bowl of lotus seed, lily bulb, and autumn pear soup to visit her.
The Princess shuffled in her shoes to welcome her, “You’ve finally come!”
Shen Shaoguang smiled – this was truly “rushing out in slippers to welcome a guest.”
Shen Shaoguang first inquired about Princess Fuhui’s health. The Princess smiled: “It’s just a chill, some coughing, need to rest for a few days and take some medicine, then I’ll be fine.”
Seeing the lotus seed, lily bulb, and autumn pear soup Shen Shaoguang had stewed, Princess Fuhui smiled: “You understand my heart, drinking bitter medicine all day, my intestines have turned bitter!”
A maid brought small bowls and served her one.
Princess Fuhui slowly sipped with a small silver spoon.
After finishing a bowl, Princess Fuhui smiled: “Your soup seems especially delicious.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled: “It’s not that the soup is especially delicious, it’s that I’m especially lovable, making people forget their worries upon seeing me.”
Princess Fuhui nodded: “Indeed you’re lovable! Deputy Minister Lin is lucky.”
The Princess raised an eyebrow and asked with interest: “How is it? Have you got him yet?”
Shen Shaoguang: “…”
“He’s that faithful?”
Shen Shaoguang: “…”
Princess Fuhui shook her head: “You’re too shy.” After a while, she said, “Being shy has its advantages too. You don’t know how many men in this world are cheap – if you take them seriously, they’ll play hard to get. Only what they’ve worked hard to pursue themselves will they treasure.”
Shen Shaoguang thought if the Princess were born in a later era, she’d probably be some kind of relationship blogger, writing daily posts like “He Just Doesn’t Love You That Much,” “Why Do You Always Look for Boyfriends in the Trash,” “Should You Choose the Rich One or the One Who’s Good to You,” “I’m Successful Because I Spent the Time on Work Instead of Serving Husband and Children” – either chicken soup or poisoned chicken soup for relationships.
Shen Shaoguang nodded: “So, I’d better take it slow. Besides, I’m really busy. Princess hasn’t been to our shop these days and doesn’t know we’re having a ‘Crab Competition’ – comparing water-steamed versus wine-cinnamon smoked, sugar-preserved versus wine-preserved, preserved versus fresh…” Shen Shaoguang explained the subsequent plans, then smiled proudly, “We’ve almost cleared out three preserved food merchants’ crab inventory.”
The Princess clapped her hands: “Your money-making skills are truly extraordinary. You should be the Minister of Revenue – then would the Emperor need to worry about money every day?”
Shen Shaoguang also expressed regret, “Too bad the court doesn’t recruit female officials, otherwise I’d take the examinations too, perhaps even get to wear crimson and purple.”
Princess Fuhui smiled: “Our dynasty has had female officials. Not those in the Emperor’s harem, but as you said, proper cabinet officials.”
Shen Shaoguang looked at her with great interest.
“Like Lady Han of the Korean State before. Wife of the great minister Duke Wei Lu Chengzhi, founder of the Luoxia Academy, whom scholars called Teacher Cheng.”
This “Teacher Cheng,” Shen Shaoguang, as a person from Luoyang, albeit only nominally, knew of but didn’t know she had been an official.
“You’ve been deceived by the history books. She was that Minister Cheng who defended Yunzhou.” Princess Fuhui smiled.
Shen Shaoguang: “!!!” The history books mentioned Prime Minister Cheng Ping, and when discussing academy education also mentioned this “Teacher Cheng,” but who could have imagined they were the same person? One was a diligent official from a humble family, the other a noble lady passionate about education… The historians played quite a trick with their writing.
One of the tutors who had taught the princes and princesses, Liu Yun, was passionate about digging information from between the lines of historical texts and classics. His famous saying was “You must treat these writers, these ancient sages and worthies, famous generals and ministers, and even treacherous officials, as living people.” This teacher was dismissed by the previous emperor because his findings about Confucius’s background were too shocking and he often spoke of incredible things. But what he said about Teacher Cheng was likely true, after all, it wasn’t that long ago and many clues could still be found.
Princess Fuhui’s scholarship was ordinary, but she remembered such unusual stories clearly. She shook her head and sighed: “What an extraordinary woman.”
Shen Shaoguang felt that she wasn’t just extraordinary, but a winner in life – first a famous minister, then a great teacher… Compared to her, Shen Shaoguang was just a salted fish.
Seeming to see through her thoughts, Princess Fuhui comforted her: “You’re not bad either, and you’re prettier than Minister Cheng.”
Shen Shaoguang: “…”
Author’s Note:
① This passage references Mr. Liang Shiqiu’s “Crab,” which mentions “stewing crab shells” and eating roast lamb wrapped in flatbread after crab. I’ve never had such crab shell soup, but I wonder if it’s similar to duck bone soup from roast duck restaurants, or the “bone-smashed soup” served after fish in some Shandong restaurants?
② Here “elder son” refers to the male protagonist’s father.
————
Cheng Ping takes center stage today.
Cheng Ping: Come, author, let’s talk about what you mean by saying I’m not pretty at the end.