Yummy Yummy Yummy

Pei Fei and Lin Yan stepped out of the Lin residence, strolling leisurely.

"Ah—" Pei Fei shook his head, sighing for the thirtieth time that day.

Lin Yan didn't even glance at him, continuing forward.

Pei Fei followed with a pained expression.

Pei Fei had fled to the Lin residence to escape calamity—not just any calamity, but a romantic one.

On the day of heavy snowfall, Pei Fei had been in a poetic mood and went to a tavern in the East Market with a green bamboo umbrella to drink. Who could have guessed he would coincidentally run into Princess Fuhui, who had just left Xingqing Palace? And who could have guessed he would coincidentally catch the princess's eye? The very next day, she sent an invitation for Pei Fei to visit her residence to admire camellias and discuss poetry.

Pei Fei wished he could go back and slap himself. Why did you have to pretend to be refined? Why drink in the snow? And why insist on going to the East Market? Didn’t you know it’s close to the imperial palace?

Complaining was useless, so Pei Fei feigned illness and barely managed to dodge the invitation.

Fearing the princess might host another "flower-viewing gathering" during the long winter solstice holiday, Pei Fei fled to the Lin residence early this morning, skipping breakfast entirely after yesterday’s grand court assembly and official banquet.

Though he often visited the Lin residence, he had never arrived right when the ward gates opened. Faced with Lin Yan’s slightly puzzled expression, Pei Fei stammered. How could he admit outright that Princess Fuhui seemed to have taken a fancy to him and wanted him as a male concubine? Such words were too embarrassing to voice. So he simply mumbled, "Troubled by love, troubled by love..."

Lin Yan snorted in amusement. Pei Twelve was excellent in every way—except for being too much of a philanderer. Troubled by love? Let him suffer! That’s why he ignored Pei Fei’s sighs now. Pei Fei, however, was suffering in silence.

Truthfully, if the princess weren’t royalty, Pei Fei might have genuinely liked her. Her striking, peony-like beauty; the way her eyes crinkled with laughter before she even spoke; her age—twenty-seven or twenty-eight, neither too old nor too young...

But a true man stands tall between heaven and earth, relying solely on his own abilities in court. How could he tarnish his name by climbing the ranks through a woman’s favor?

"You said my family’s hotpot wasn’t good, so let’s go eat something better," Lin Yan said, eyeing the wine banner of Shen Ji in the distance.

Pei Fei rubbed his growling stomach and decided to set aside his worries for now and feast first. "Last time, Young Lady Shen’s fish balls were especially delicious."

As they reached the entrance, they heard a man’s voice through the felt door curtain, followed by Young Lady Shen’s lively tone.

After listening for a moment, the two exchanged glances. Pei Fei chuckled, and Lin Yan lifted the curtain to step inside.

Shen Shaoguang was in the middle of a verbal spar.

The day after the winter solstice festival had started off quite pleasantly. Mid-morning, the butcher delivered not only mutton and pork but also several pheasants—long-tailed and quite beautiful—caught in the wild. One was particularly plump, likely an older bird, while the others were smaller, probably young ones from that year.

In autumn, Shen Shaoguang had received a few quails, turtledoves, and pigeons, but never pheasants. What made these especially rare was that they were alive—though this also posed a dilemma. Killing them seemed a shame, especially the large one. Even in the imperial gardens, such splendid tail feathers would be hard to find.

The butcher, as if reading her thoughts, smiled and said, "Young lady, don’t try to keep them. These birds are timid and high-strung. They’ll die within a couple of days, unlike the domesticated pheasants in noblemen’s gardens."In that case, there was nothing else to do but eat them.

Most pheasants from the palace were roasted until the skin turned golden with a slight char, glistening with oil, and eaten dipped in pepper and salt—utterly delicious. Shen Shaoguang decided to prepare the smaller ones the same way.

As for the larger one, it would be best stewed into soup. Even the wealthy and sophisticated Dowager Jia had praised the flavor of young pheasant soup. And when it came to stewing, older birds had more depth of flavor than chicks.

While the young pheasants were still roasting and the soup needed more time to simmer, the scholars from yesterday returned, likely because someone was hosting a return feast. Among them was a familiar face—Liu Feng, the clerk.

Shen Shaoguang greeted him openly, "Greetings for the Winter Solstice, Master Liu." Then she addressed the other scholars, "What would you gentlemen like to eat today? Hot pot again?"

Huan Qi smiled. "Let's try something different today."

Shen Shaoguang handed them the menu. "In that case, take your time choosing." She added, "We’ve just acquired a few pheasants—some roasted, some stewed into soup—but they’ll take a little while to prepare."

"How about some pheasant soup then? Perfect for this season," Huan Qi suggested, glancing at Liu Feng and the others.

The rest naturally deferred to the host.

Shen Shaoguang agreed with a smile and went to the kitchen to fetch some red date and wolfberry fruit drink.

Huan Qi then invited the others to order.

One of them winked at Liu Feng. "Clerk Liu is familiar with this place—let him decide."

Liu Feng flushed slightly at the remark but, not wanting Shen Shaoguang to overhear and feel awkward, said nothing.

The one who had accused Liu Feng of being "bewitched by beauty" the previous day frowned. Glancing toward the kitchen door, he lowered his voice and said to Liu Feng, "Don’t take offense at what I’m about to say, Third Brother. How could you consider marrying a market woman? Thankfully, she had enough sense to refuse."

Huan Qi and the others frowned. A little teasing was one thing, but Lu Erlang had crossed the line by saying it outright. Though they were all peers, Liu Feng was now a clerk in the capital’s administration, while the rest were either still awaiting examination results or stuck in the selection process for official posts.

Liu Feng’s face reddened further. "Don’t speak like that! The young lady is from the Shen family of Luoyang."

The group was astonished. What? A noblewoman? Then why was she selling wine in the marketplace? Soon, they understood—her family must have fallen on hard times. Even the greatest families had their withered branches.

Huan Qi, in particular, knew this well. Though he was from a noble family, he belonged to a minor branch and relied on the main lineage for support. Only because of his good looks and talent did the family head show him favor, allowing his household to maintain a respectable life. He hadn’t expected the young proprietress to share a similar background, though her fall had been far steeper...

Huan Qi said to the group, "The Shen family of Luoyang is a clan of noble scholars. Let’s show some respect."

When Shen Shaoguang returned with the fruit drink, she noticed the sudden shift in their demeanor.

She glanced at Liu Feng, whose face was flushed with embarrassment.

That expression—had they been discussing her past? Judging by their reactions, they must have mentioned her family name. Liu Feng, being a decent man, probably hadn’t revealed that she had once been a palace maid consigned to the inner court...

Shen Shaoguang’s keen observation and logical deduction skills were spot-on—she had guessed almost everything.

Seeing her refined speech and impeccable manners, and now knowing she was from the Shen family of Luoyang, the scholars grew even more regretful.Lu the Second considered himself a man of upright character. He turned to Shen Shaoguang and said, "I have something to say, though I wonder if it's appropriate to speak."

Liu Feng frowned. "Lu the Second—"

Shen Shaoguang smiled. "Please go ahead, sir."

"I just heard that the young lady is from the Shen family of Luoyang. Since you come from a scholar-official family, even if your household has declined, how could you have fallen to such a state?" She could have relied on relatives or found a marriage—how could she appear in public selling wine? Out of respect for the name "Shen," Lu the Second refrained from saying "self-degradation."

In this era, the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants was rigid. Shen Shaoguang had no intention of challenging mainstream societal norms, but being confronted so bluntly still irked her.

Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes with a smile. "Judging by your distinguished bearing and hearing Liu Feng address you as 'Lu the Second,' might you be from the Lu clan of the Eastern Capital?"

The Lu clan of Luoyang had produced numerous high-ranking officials and was among the most prestigious scholar-official families. Lu the Second wished he belonged to such a lineage, but one couldn’t falsely claim ancestry. He had to admit, "I am from Xiangzhou."

Shen Shaoguang nodded. "Ah, no wonder..."

Everyone looked at her curiously—no wonder what?

"In the past, Duke Wei, Lu Chengzhi, reformed salt policies, dredged the Grand Canal, and promoted trade between north and south, displaying talents akin to Sang Hongyang of the Han Dynasty. He once said, 'Commerce is the lifeblood of the state.' I imagine the Lu clan of Luoyang teaches such principles in their family school."

She glanced at Lu the Second and smiled. "I thought the Lu clan had produced an unconventional thinker. Hearing your origins, I realize I was mistaken. Please forgive my error." She bowed slightly.

Lu the Second was too furious to speak.

Huan Qi and the others were momentarily speechless. This young lady had a sharp tongue and was surprisingly well-versed in the policies of renowned ministers.

Liu Feng stared wide-eyed—Young Lady Shen had always been dignified and gentle...

Shen Shaoguang glanced at Liu Feng. Did I—just break character?

Just then, laughter sounded outside, and the felt curtain was lifted as two gentlemen entered: Lord Lin and his friend.

Lu the Second flicked his sleeve and strode out, brushing past Lin Yan and Pei Fei.

Ignoring Lu the Second for now, Liu Feng stepped forward to greet Lin Yan.

Seeing Liu Feng’s demeanor and hearing him address Lin as "Lord Lin," Huan Qi and the others realized this was the Vice Prefect of the Capital and hurried to bow as well.

Lin Yan nodded faintly. "No need for formalities, gentlemen."

He then introduced Pei Fei, and after exchanging courtesies, they rearranged their seating.

Rarely encountering a high-ranking official in crimson robes, Huan Qi and the others naturally sought to impress. They now regretted not bringing their examination scrolls—submitting them in person would have been far better than entrusting them to gatekeepers, who might never deliver them or even use them as kindling.

Shen Shaoguang observed that their focus was on conversation rather than food, as if holding a literary salon. Fortunately, with the lingering lull after the winter solstice, few customers were present, so she let them borrow the space. She had A Yuan serve hot fruit drinks to Lin and Pei, then went to the kitchen to check on the wild chicken soup.

The group began discussing the emperor’s benevolent policies, with two even composing poems. Lin Yan nodded. "The court selects those with both virtue and talent. You gentlemen are highly gifted—I cannot compare. As for virtue..." He paused, scanning the group with clear eyes and solemn expression. "To uphold virtue in one’s heart, to be cautious in speech and conduct—that is the mark of a gentleman. Let us strive for this together."Everyone quickly stood up to receive the admonishment, with only Pei Fei smiling as he took a sip of his red date and goji berry Fruit Drink from his teacup.

Fearing they might disturb their stern superior during his meal, Liu Feng excused himself. Huan Qi and the others, feeling they lacked the standing to dine with such a high-ranking official in crimson robes, followed Liu Feng's lead and took their leave.

Shen Shaoguang came out from the kitchen to see them off. Huan Qi and the others treated her with extra courtesy—Lord Lin's lecture on "virtue" still ringing in their ears. Come to think of it, how much had Lord Lin overheard earlier? His words were undoubtedly correct, but given the prior incident, it all sounded like a veiled reprimand.

Huan Qi suddenly had a strange thought—could Lord Lin have some connection with this Young Lady Shen?

Distractedly recalling that the others had addressed this man as Huan Qi, Shen Shaoguang considered stopping him to relay the matter of the young lady searching for someone. But after a moment's hesitation, she decided against it. It would be better to speak with the young lady first. After all, knowing where Liu Feng lived meant they could surely locate this Huan Qi.

Approaching the two who remained, Shen Shaoguang asked cheerfully, "We have fresh pheasant today—it'll be roasted shortly, and there's pheasant soup as well. Would you gentlemen care to try some?"

Pei Fei glanced at Shen Shaoguang, then at Lin Yan, and chuckled. "We'll follow the young lady's suggestion. Bring whatever's fresh—and plenty of it. After all," he added with a grin, "I'm not the one paying."

Shen Shaoguang flashed an understanding smile. Friends, after all, were meant to be taken advantage of—she got it! With a lighthearted nod, she replied, "Please wait just a moment, gentlemen."

Noticing their teasing grins, Lin Yan pressed his lips together and lifted his teacup. Pei Fei had been sighing all morning—he thoroughly deserved this!

Author's Note: Though it might not fit perfectly timeline-wise, I stubbornly had Chancellor Lu from next door make a cameo. Clearly, my love for Chancellor Lu runs deep! ^