Shen Shaoguang immediately thought mischievously, squinting her eyes and smiling like a fox.
Lin Yan turned his head slightly, looking at her with a smile.
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Shen Shaoguang smiled and said, “In that case, I shall go and enjoy some of my lord’s fine tea.”
Lin Yan lived in the courtyard where the Shen couple had previously resided. The courtyard and corridors vaguely resembled her memories, but the details were different. Shen Shaoguang remembered there used to be large flower beds with peonies and tree peonies; the windows were always decorated with red paper-cuts; bird cages hung under the corridors housing several yellow warblers with melodious calls, and every morning her mother would personally change their rice and water…
“Aji—” Lin Yan looked at her with concern.
Shen Shaoguang turned to smile at him, “My lord practices sword in this courtyard in the mornings?”
Lin Yan nodded.
Now the large flower beds were gone, with only a long strip of space sectioned off by the corridor railings, bordered with bricks, and planted with a few clusters of flowers. Judging by the remaining branches, they appeared to be peonies and tree peonies. The rest of the courtyard was empty, paved with lotus-patterned blue bricks. As for the yellow warblers under the corridor and paper-cuts on the windows, they were completely absent – it had a distinctly masculine atmosphere.
Shen Shaoguang smiled again and asked, “What’s planted by the railing?”
“Several clusters of peonies.”
“What variety?”
“The flower seller said they were Zuizhuangxian, but the color seems deeper, more like Huoyunxia. I’m not very knowledgeable about these things. When they bloom,” Lin Yan smiled gently, “you can see for yourself.”
Shen Shaoguang squinted and smiled, neither approving nor disapproving, as she stepped onto the stairs.
Earlier, there had been a hint of melancholy in her expression, but in an instant, she had switched to a lively demeanor. Lin Yan felt somewhat heartbroken and wanted to tell her she didn’t need to put on a front before him, but fearing it might make her more sorrowful, he ultimately remained silent.
The Lin family maid lifted the curtain, and everyone entered.
The room contained several pieces of sandalwood furniture – a large couch, a long desk, and bookshelves covering half the wall, all in dark, somber colors. Books were everywhere: stacked on the desk, piled on the bookshelves, and even on the small table atop the couch. Though the items weren’t disorganized – the books were neatly arranged, the brush holder on the long desk was filled with brushes, and the lampstands, brush washers, and paperweights were all orderly, as were the teapot, teacups, and snack plates on the small table – it was unclear whether this was due to Young Master Lin’s natural tidiness or the maids’ diligence.
The most eye-catching elements in the room were the landscape painting on the wall and the six-panel screen. The painting depicted dark mountains with white snow, a winding stream, and a thatched cottage beside it where two hermits played chess. The scene conveyed a tranquil, otherworldly zen atmosphere. Judging by the signature, the artist appeared to be a friend of the Deputy Magistrate Lin.
The six-panel sandalwood screen was inscribed with “The Sweet Pear Tree,” written in running script in Deputy Magistrate Lin’s handwriting.
“The Sweet Pear Tree” from the Book of Songs was a work commemorating Duke Zhao, who served the people diligently and once “held court under a sweet pear tree.” After his death, “the people, missing Duke Zhao’s governance, cherished the sweet pear tree and dared not cut it down” – rather like modern fans attributing significance to objects associated with those they admire. This poem spoke of exactly that.
To shine brightly while alive and be respected and remembered after death – truly the ideal Confucian life. But paired with that detached, otherworldly “Snow Cottage Chess Players” painting… our Deputy Magistrate Lin seems to have a bit of the traditional scholar’s split personality.
When in high office, one dreams of the pleasures of mountain seclusion; when far from court, one contemplates wearing purple robes and jade pendants while directing affairs of state – ah, scholars…
Lin Yan and Shen Shaoguang sat facing each other on the couch as maids brought tea.
Seeing Shen Shaoguang look at the screen, Lin Yan followed her gaze.
Though Shen Shaoguang was internally amused, she smiled and said, “My lord’s calligraphy is truly excellent. You must give me a piece someday.”
Because of her earlier melancholy, Lin Yan now only wanted to comfort her, and said gently, “I’ll write you a screen too, to place beside your couch in the main hall and block the wind.”
Shen Shaoguang remembered the pillow screen he had given her. If she wasn’t mistaken, the bedroom must be behind this Sweet Pear Tree screen. She wondered if Deputy Magistrate Lin’s pillow screen was as dignified and serious as this one.
Shen Shaoguang couldn’t resist teasing him a bit, “I don’t want this ‘Sweet Pear Tree’…”
Lin Yan smiled and asked, “What do you want then?”
“I already have summer and autumn lotus pond scenes, so my lord should give me a winter scene.”
With the maids gone, Shen Shaoguang smiled flirtatiously and asked in a low voice, “Hey, Yan lang, what pattern is on your pillow screen?”
Lin Yan glanced at her, pressed his lips together, and stood up, taking her hand, “Come see for yourself.”
Shen Shaoguang just smiled and allowed him to lead her.
Lin Yan’s bedroom was quite spacious, with a style similar to the outer room – broad, heavy, and serene. There was a simple large bed without posts or curtains, with only a small screen in front.
Being a single panel, the screen offered no concealment, and Shen Shaoguang immediately saw that it depicted the same scene as her screen – a vast lake view with thick reeds, just divided differently between single and multiple panels.
Shen Shaoguang had only guessed they might be from the same lotus pond water series, but they turned out to be identical…
Shen Shaoguang tilted her head to look at him. Lin Yan just smiled warmly but gripped her hand tighter.
Shen Shaoguang used her other hand to lightly tap Lin Yan’s chest, saying with a meaningful smile, “Here – your intentions are crystal clear.”
Lin Yan caught her free hand, releasing the other to embrace her instead.
“Aji—” Lin Yan called softly.
Being held so tightly by him, so close to his eyes, nose, and mouth, Shen Shaoguang felt nervous, seemingly able to hear heartbeats, unsure whether they were his or her own.
Lin Yan closed his eyes and lowered his head to kiss her.
After quite a while, Lin Yan pulled back slightly, looked at her dreamy eyes and red lips, then kissed her again.
Much later, “Ah Yan—”
“Mm?”
Shen Shaoguang, resting against his chest, murmured with a smile, “If the screen reveals your intentions so clearly, was this all premeditated?”
“Mm.” A deep nasal sound.
Shen Shaoguang had only been teasing out of habit, not expecting him to admit it. Our Deputy Magistrate Lin’s face…
“What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about Ming Nu. What a dignified cat it used to be, but later it would roll around playfully, refusing to get up unless you scratched its neck and rubbed its back.”
Lin Yan’s chest vibrated with laughter.
Shen Shaoguang also laughed, pressing her face against his clothes and hugging him tightly again.
However, even the longest kisses and embraces must end. Lin Yan held her hand as they walked around the bedroom. Shen Shaoguang glanced at the bed, not daring to be too improper – what if things got out of hand… This was someone else’s home after all, and they still had to dine with the Elderly Madam later.
So Shen Shaoguang just chatted about trivial things like whether this cup was from the Ding kiln or Xing kiln, what stone this seal was made from, and such. Seeing her somewhat shy and awkward manner, Lin Yan smiled.
Shen Shaoguang felt his shamelessness was due to home-field advantage – at her place, she would be even more shameless.
“I want to marry you soon.” Lin Yan hugged her again, kissed her hair by her temples, and then took her hand as they left the bedroom to sit facing each other in the hall.
They drank the now-cool tea and continued chatting.
There wasn’t much serious discussion. Shen Shaoguang shared some stories she had collected, carefully avoiding the risqué ones and sticking to scholarly humor. This led to talking about scholars drinking in taverns, which led to the upcoming Ministry of Rites examination and Ministry of Personnel selections.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and said, “Since Young Master Yang wrote poetry outside our tavern and was noticed by Minister Li who took him as an advisor, inspired by this, I think we should give something back to the scholars who dine at our tavern. For example, we could compile the poems they’ve written for our establishment into a volume, print it, keep copies at the tavern, distribute some on the streets, and sell some at the bookshops in the east and west markets…”
Lin Yan smiled – Aji truly had a good business sense.
Shen Shaoguang continued to play innocent, “Scholars have it tough. If we can help, we should. It’s also helping the court identify talent.”
Lin Yan nodded: “Indeed. When His Majesty holds the next grand banquet, there will surely be abundant fine poetry.”
Shen Shaoguang tapped the table to warn him.
Lin Yan smiled but then said seriously, “Send these poems to me later, and I’ll help you select them. When it’s printed, we can send a copy to the Vice Minister of Rites.”
In this era, there was a tradition of sending poetry and prose to officials and nobles, asking them to help spread one’s name or even recommend one to the examiners – this was known as the Xingjuan system. It was standard practice for high officials like Deputy Magistrate Lin to pass along poetry they approved of to the Vice Minister of Rites.
But Shen Shaoguang shook her head and smiled, “People would say you’re helping your wife advertise… better not.”
Though he didn’t understand what “advertise” meant, Lin Yan understood her meaning and found the phrase “your wife” endearing, so he smiled and said, “If I don’t help my wife, who should I help?”
Shen Shaoguang still shook her head. While she certainly worried about affecting Lin Yan, it was also because after taking so many detours over the years, she was content to now walk a straight path. Suddenly having a shortcut before her, she didn’t know how to step forward – moreover, Shen Shaoguang felt her ability to walk the straight path wasn’t bad; she could forge ahead one step at a time!
Shen Shaoguang explained her vision: “We want to make this a tradition, publishing one volume each year. In the first couple of years, few will know about it, but if we keep doing it long-term, more people will learn of it. The more scholars and officials who know about it, the more poetry we’ll receive and can select. By then, we won’t need you to help send it to the Vice Minister of Rites – he’ll come looking for it himself.”
Lin Yan raised his hand to stroke her hair – my dear Aji…
Shen Shaoguang tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.
“Aji, have I ever told you that you have the spirit of an ancient noble person? ‘Walking the straight path, unmoved by things, unbound by emotions, doing what should be done, attending to what should be attended to.'”
She had been praised for her good cooking, beauty, intelligence, and even elegant bearing, but “noble person”… Shen Shaoguang thought this must be lovers’ rose-tinted glasses.
“It’s just that by not giving me this chance to ‘show favoritism,’ you make me seem quite useless.” Lin Yan looked at her and smiled.
Shen Shaoguang laughed and demanded without ceremony: “Write a preface for this collection. If I write it myself, I fear I won’t have enough authority and might diminish the collection’s value. Also, I need your help with the selection. The first volume needs to start strong.”
Lin Yan nodded.
Shen Shaoguang was best at painting grand pictures, and she told him grandly: “Write it well – who knows, you might become famous in posterity for this preface? More effective than having court historians write a ‘Biography of Lin Yan.’ After all, who reads about famous officials for fun? More people love food…”
Lin Yan also put on a serious expression and bowed to her: “Then I must thank Miss Shen in advance.”
“Don’t mention it, don’t mention it…”
They both burst out laughing.
Next door, the Lin family maids were having tea and snacks with A Yuan and A Qing.
Hearing the laughter from the main hall, the Lin family maids were quite surprised – when had the young master ever laughed like this? But A Yuan and A Qing were quite calm – don’t all young masters laugh like this? Especially when with our young mistress; when Young Master Shao laughs, he can scare the birds from the courtyard.
Author’s Note: ① From “Records of the Grand Historian – Hereditary House of Duke Zhao of Yan”
② From “I Ching”
—–
Shen Shaoguang: We kissed today! Throw flowers!
Author: How did it feel?
Shen Shaoguang: %¥#@… Do you want me to say? I’m afraid you’ll get censored.
Author: Better not!! Let the dear readers imagine for themselves.