On the ninth day of the third month, Shen Shaoguang entered the palace for an audience with the emperor—coincidentally, the birthday from her previous life.
Lord Lin, having just returned from court, escorted Shen Shaoguang before turning back again.
Upon hearing that the emperor had summoned her, Shen Shaoguang was initially surprised, but upon reflection, it made sense. As the sole survivor of the wrongful Shen family case, who had also coincidentally played a role in protecting the emperor, coupled with Lord Lin’s connections with Li Xiang, it was only natural for the emperor to show some sympathy and reassurance.
From Shen Shaoguang’s perspective, the current emperor could hardly be called a man of great vision or profound wisdom. However, he was somewhat thin-skinned—prone to a sense of "embarrassment." Too embarrassed to indulge in extravagance, he had dragged out the construction of a single palace garden for years due to the treasury’s limited funds. Too embarrassed to purge the court and military outright upon ascending the throne, he had instead diluted their ranks gradually. And now, having accepted the "favors" from people like her, he was too embarrassed to continue suppressing the Shen family’s wrongful case...
Perhaps not thick-skinned or ruthless enough to be considered a great emperor, he might at least qualify as a decent man.
When Lord Lin heard Shen Shaoguang’s assessment of the emperor, he laughed. He had long noticed that A Qi lacked reverence for the imperial family, instead scrutinizing them with a critical eye—almost reminiscent of the aristocratic scholars of the Six Dynasties.
As the scion of a scholarly family and a man who had earned literary fame in his youth, Lord Lin had once been unrestrained himself. In those days, reading histories with Pei Fei, they had freely judged historical figures and debated past and present—not quite to the extent of mocking Kong Qiu, but they had certainly dismissed many emperors with disdain.
Lord Lin largely agreed with Shen Shaoguang’s words. While the emperor’s "thin skin" and "benevolence" were sometimes born of necessity, they also stemmed from his temperament. Among emperors, the current one had an unusual amount of "humanity" about him.
Shen Shaoguang scoffed in amusement. So even their esteemed Lord Lin could be so sharp-tongued. "Humanity"... Indeed, how many renowned emperors in history, despite their strategic brilliance, lacked precisely that quality?
Lord Lin didn’t mind revealing his "true self" in front of her—in fact, it was liberating. Before the one he admired, he could show every facet of himself honestly, just as on a wedding night... He coughed lightly and smiled at Shen Shaoguang. "Shall we go?"
Shen Shaoguang eyed him suspiciously, sensing something off about his demeanor.
While Shen Shaoguang and Lord Lin discussed the emperor, the emperor was also discussing them with Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang was a man entirely in the emperor’s confidence, so His Majesty spoke frankly: "Once the northern campaign is settled and it’s time to reward the meritorious, let’s make Lin Yan the Capital Governor. Send Old Bai to Luoyang to retire—no point letting him squat in office without results."
Hearing the emperor use such colloquial language, Qin Xiang chuckled and chided, "Your Majesty mustn’t pick up such crude phrases from those petty eunuchs. What if you slip and say it in court? The censors would never let it go."
The emperor laughed. "Let them talk. Haven’t they criticized me enough already? They scold me for building gardens, for being late to court, even for wearing short sleeves in summer—one more grievance won’t make a difference."
Qin Xiang steered the conversation back to Lin Yan. "Though young, Lord Lin is responsible and bold—rarely pedantic, too. The capital could use someone like him at the helm."
It was unusual for Qin Xiang to comment on court officials in front of the emperor. Intrigued, the emperor studied him.
Qin Xiang concluded, "Truly a capable man.""I also admire the chivalrous spirit in him," the emperor remarked to Qin Xiang, referring to Lin Yan's earlier efforts on behalf of Cui Boyuan. "Though his demeanor is cold, his heart is warm, reminiscent of the ancient sages. Such a man is one you can trust."
When Shen Shaoguang was mentioned, Qin Xiang couldn't help but smile warmly. "She truly is an exceptional young lady—beautiful in appearance and exceedingly clever..." Qin Xiang paused, regretting that she hadn't stayed in the palace.
Having served the emperor for twenty years, the emperor could easily discern Qin Xiang's thoughts from his tone. Recalling Lin Yan's seemingly modest praise, the emperor acknowledged Shen Shaoguang's intelligence without question. But when selecting wives or concubines, who prioritizes wisdom above all? It wasn’t as if he were choosing an advisor.
Yet, thinking of the playful amusement in the tavern, the poetry collection centered on food, the cookbook that read like literature, and the famed Hot Pot that promised a month’s worth of unique flavors, this young lady certainly had an interesting personality...
When the emperor finally met Shen Xiao Niangzi, though she was a minister’s wife, he couldn’t help but take a closer look. He had to admit her beauty was striking—not in the conventional sense of facial features, but in her spirited aura. Her eyes seemed to hold the warmth of a spring sun. To think such a person had once been in his palace...
The emperor would never apologize on behalf of his father to a subordinate, but he offered gentle consolation: "You have suffered much these years, my lady."
Shen Shaoguang smiled and curtsied. "This common woman dare not speak of suffering."
Dare not speak of suffering—not that there was none. A statement both tactful and principled, embodying the dignity of a scholar. She referred to herself as a "common woman" rather than a "subject’s daughter," as her father’s wrongful conviction had yet to be overturned. Her manner of speech mirrored that of the court officials—subtle yet direct, every word carrying weight, every sentence firm and resolute.
Earlier, the emperor had thought Lord Lin had found himself a talented, beautiful, and charming young lady. Now, he felt his own Consort Pang was preferable—clear and straightforward as a babbling brook, her thoughts easy to read, her words never more than one turn away from the truth.
The emperor glanced at Lin Yan, wondering if this was how the couple usually spoke to each other. Did Lord Lin spend his days debating court affairs and then return home to the same with his wife? Wasn’t it exhausting?
Clearing his throat, the emperor adopted the tone he used with his ministers. "Prince Wu’s case has been ordered for retrial. It will take some time, my lady."
Shen Shaoguang bowed solemnly. "Understood."
"You are indeed astute, my lady. Last summer, you caught the northern spies, and this year, you uncovered the schemes of Li Yu and Qiao Hai."
This was a cue for details, which Shen Shaoguang provided. The northern-style dishes the spies had ordered, the scents on their clothes, their expressions at the time... As for Li Yu, the inconsistencies were even more numerous—claiming to be a scholar from Suzhou yet favoring northern Cheese Drink, choosing Xinfeng wine over his daughter’s wedding wine, eating lamb spine with ease, loving sour and spicy flavors, craving noodles, and even carrying the same incense as the northern tribesmen.
The emperor had already heard Lin Yan’s report on these matters. Lin Yan’s account had been concise and strategic, focusing on the broader implications. But Young Lady Shen’s retelling was meticulous and detailed, resembling the thorough case files submitted by the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking with such a young lady was a novel experience. The emperor cleared his throat again. "I heard that on the day Qiao Hai was captured, you personally went to the tavern, risking danger?"A descendant of a disgraced official, a young maiden with such vision, courage, and loyalty... The emperor nodded, "Truly, such a lady is rare."
Shen Shaoguang gave a shy smile and answered honestly, "There wasn't any real danger that day. I left early."
The emperor laughed—she was indeed a straightforward person.
But Shen Shaoguang straightened her expression. "Even if there had been danger, it wouldn't have mattered. My late father once taught me, 'If it benefits the nation, do not spare yourself.' I was merely following in his footsteps."
Remembering Shen Qian's tragic heroism at the palace steps years ago, the emperor fell silent for a moment. "Rest assured, young lady. Your father's injustice will be rectified."
This time, Shen Shaoguang bowed deeply in gratitude.
On the way back, Lin Yan didn't ride his horse but instead accompanied Shen Shaoguang in the carriage.
Noticing her expression, Lin Yan pulled her close, gently stroking her back with his other hand. "My dear A Qi..."
After a moment, Shen Shaoguang sat up straight and smiled. "Today is my birthday."
Not wanting her to dwell on sadness, Lin Yan played along with a smile. "Didn't we just celebrate your birthday a couple of days ago? How is today also your birthday?"
Shen Shaoguang touched the hairpin Lin Yan had given her recently and raised an eyebrow. "A couple of days ago was A Qi's birthday. Today is Shaoguang's birthday. Is that not allowed?"
Lin Yan chuckled. "Fine, fine. But you didn't tell me in advance, so I didn't prepare a gift."
A gift... Shen Shaoguang glanced at Lin Yan, her gaze lingering on his neck. She narrowed her eyes with a playful smile. "If you join me for dinner tonight, I'll tell you what I want."
Lin Yan nodded and gently stroked her hair.
That evening, after dinner at the Shen residence, the two sat facing each other on the divan, sipping tea when Lin Yan brought it up again.
Shen Shaoguang leaned closer and whispered something.
Lin Yan pressed his lips together, watching her mix mischief with coquetry, and sighed helplessly. He truly regretted insisting on inviting Prefect Shen to oversee the Six Rites back then.
"Not allowed?" Shen Shaoguang teased again.
"Be good, don't provoke me. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back..."
Shen Shaoguang glanced once more at his neck. All she wanted was to touch and play with that little red mole—was it really such a big deal?
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