After the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the year was truly drawing to a close. Every household was busy sweeping dust, making spring banners, replacing peachwood charms, and preparing festive foods like Tusu wine, the Five-Spice Platter, and sticky toffee, along with all the necessary items for ancestral worship. By the 27th or 28th day of the month, shops would finish sweeping, hang new peachwood charms, distribute bonuses, and prepare to close, reopening only after the fifth day of the new year.
Shen Shaoguang stood at the door, exchanging pleasantries with the vegetable and meat vendors. "As the new year approaches, may your families be blessed with health and happiness."
The vendors clasped their hands in return, smiling and offering their own blessings: "May Young Lady Shen be blessed with health and happiness," and "May your tavern prosper."
This time, Shen Shaoguang accepted nearly all the meat and vegetables delivered, as long as they were passable, while the vendors waived the small change. She even gave them some freshly made Flower Cakes from the shop to take home for their children—a gesture of courtesy and warmth among ordinary folk.
After confirming delivery dates for after the new year, Shen Shaoguang watched them leave.
Shen Ji Tavern was also open for its last day before the holiday. Yu San, with A Chang's help, was busy moving vegetables, chopping meat, and storing everything properly—some to be kept fresh outside in the cold for use during and after the new year.
Meanwhile, A Yuan waited nearby, ready to assist Shen Shaoguang in making banners and writing peachwood charms.
These banners weren’t the ornate, gold-adorned hairpins but simple flags made of blue cloth to be hung in the courtyard on New Year’s Day, symbolizing the arrival of spring. Shen Shaoguang’s sewing skills were mediocre, but she could manage stitching a banner well enough.
As for writing peachwood charms, she was more adept.
"Did the Qiu family from the tofu shop come for their peachwood charm?" Shen Shaoguang asked A Yuan as she sewed.
"Yes, they picked it up this morning and even brought a box of spiced dried tofu as thanks."
Shen Shaoguang chuckled. "We’ll stir-fry it with cured meat later as a snack."
Knowing that Shen Shaoguang had written the shop’s signboards and menu herself, neighbors and nearby small businesses often came to request peachwood charms. Scholars were hard to ask—either too many people sought their calligraphy, making them impatient, or they considered such tasks beneath them. Common folk and small merchants couldn’t distinguish between calligraphic styles or judge quality, but Young Lady Shen was approachable...
Shen Shaoguang mused that her earlier idea of setting up a divination stall could expand to include writing peachwood charms and painting door gods—with the added allure of mysticism, business would surely thrive.
Yu San passed by and glanced at Shen Shaoguang’s crudely stitched banner, letting out a derisive snort.
A Yuan glared at him. "What’s so funny? You can’t even sew!"
Shen Shaoguang nodded vigorously in agreement—A Yuan had defended her well! She deserved an extra chicken drumstick at lunch today.
With a faint smile, Yu San took a meat hook and went outside to freeze the meat.
The bell above the door jingled. Shen Shaoguang frowned—was a customer coming for wine this early in the morning? Or perhaps another request for peachwood charms?
The felt curtain was lifted, and a young woman entered, dressed in riding attire, a whip in hand, followed by maids and guards. Shen Shaoguang paused—this guest clearly wasn’t here for charms.
Setting aside her needlework, Shen Shaoguang stood to greet her. "Please, come in and take a seat, my lady."
The woman studied Shen Shaoguang briefly, then scanned the shop before handing her whip to a maid. "This must be the place."
One of the guards behind her bowed and exited.
Shen Shaoguang returned with a tray bearing a red date and wolfberry Fruit Drink, smiling warmly. "Please, have a drink to warm yourself, my lady."The maid beside the female guest took the tray, casting a puzzled glance at the fruit drink inside before placing it on the dining table in front of her mistress.
The guest, however, was not one to stand on ceremony. She picked it up and took a sip, raising her eyebrows. "Hmm, not bad at all!"
Shen Shaoguang smiled in thanks. Originally, the drink hadn’t been this sweet, but knowing the guest’s preference, she had added extra honey to it earlier.
Shen Shaoguang presented the menu, wondering why such a distinguished lady would visit a small tavern during the New Year—was Princess Fuhui also fond of incognito visits to observe the common folk? She seemed quite similar to that deputy mayor obsessed with happiness surveys. Both could easily be nominated for the "Top Ten Most Touching Figures of the Great Tang."
Thinking of the deputy mayor, Shen Shaoguang suddenly recalled Pang Erniang and Qin Wuniang, and her thoughts wandered further. Could it be... was this lady also one of Lord Lin’s admirers?
"I heard this hot pot originated from a tavern in Chongxianfang. Could this be your establishment?" Princess Fuhui pointed at the menu and asked.
Shen Shaoguang smiled. "Indeed, it is our humble shop. Would the lady like to try a hot pot?"
Princess Fuhui grew slightly interested. "Very well—bring one of each. As for the meat and vegetables, you may choose."
Shen Shaoguang chuckled apologetically. "Our shop offers seven or eight types of hot pot bases. If we serve them all, the room will be filled with steam, and the aroma might cling to your clothes, which wouldn’t be very elegant. How about starting with a milk soup base? It pairs well with many ingredients and has a delightful flavor." Though a shopkeeper never feared big eaters, wasting food was still undesirable. Outside the imperial city, there were customs to observe.
Shen Shaoguang’s excuse was well-crafted. Imagining herself drenched in the smell of meat... Princess Fuhui nodded. "Very well, arrange it as you suggest."
Shen Shaoguang retreated with a smile. No young lady would willingly douse herself in the strong scent of hot pot. In her past life, she’d even read about a girl who wore a raincoat to a hot pot meal just to block the smell.
When Pei Fei entered, he saw Princess Fuhui seated primly at the dining table, a copper hot pot steaming vigorously beside her. Two additional tables nearby were laden with meats and vegetables, while a maid busied herself scooping meat into a bowl. Shopkeeper Shen stood to the side, warming wine.
Pei Fei sighed inwardly and stepped forward to greet her. Since the princess was incognito, he simply addressed her as "Sixth Sister"—Princess Fuhui was the sixth in her family.
"I had a feeling you’d come to Chongxianfang to see Lord Lin, so I waited here for you," Princess Fuhui said cheerfully, gesturing for Pei Fei to sit across from her.
Shen Shaoguang had never seen the flirtatious, peach-blossom-eyed Pei Fei wear such a helpless expression before.
Pei Fei took his seat opposite the princess. Shen Shaoguang thoughtfully set up a hot pot for him as well, the rising steam helping to obscure his expression.
"I find these meatballs quite delicious. Shopkeeper, give Lang Pei a portion too!"
Shen Shaoguang promptly served Pei Fei a plate.
"This tofu is excellent too. Why does it have so many holes?"
"It’s frozen tofu," Shen Shaoguang explained.
"It soaks up the broth nicely and is full of flavor."
Shen Shaoguang gave Pei Fei a plate of that as well.
"These meatballs even have two layers..."
"What’s this? It’s so crisp and chewy..."
Shen Shaoguang kept adding dishes for Pei Fei. Before long, his table was overflowing, and two more tables had to be brought in just for the hot pot ingredients.
Watching the happily dining princess and the equally cheerful Shopkeeper Shen bustling about, Pei Fei resigned himself to fate and picked up his chopsticks to eat as well.Shen Shaoguang silently praised, that's the spirit—whether you stretch your neck or shrink back, it's still a single stroke of the blade. Might as well eat first.
Unfortunately, Pei Fei had barely taken a few bites when the princess set down her chopsticks. She wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief handed by her maid, then waved at Shen Shaoguang. Shen hurriedly led A Yuan forward to clear the table with the hot pot and set up another one with a cup of fruit drink. Then, with tactful discretion, she retreated to the kitchen to pretend she didn’t exist.
"Lang Pei, I assume you understand my meaning. Are you willing?"
Pei Fei’s heart was bitter, and so was his mouth. As he struggled to find the right words, Princess Fuhui continued, "Willing is willing, unwilling is unwilling. Why hide and avoid me like a bashful maiden?"
Pei Fei flushed, stood up, and bowed solemnly. "This humble official is unwilling."
The princess raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Pei Fei’s handsome face, shoulders, waist, and long legs before she sighed faintly. "Then let it be..."
Pei Fei hadn’t expected Princess Fuhui to give up so easily and was momentarily stunned.
Princess Fuhui stood, and Shen Shaoguang quickly emerged from the kitchen to see her off.
"Would you be willing to serve as a cook in my household? You wouldn’t need to change your status to a servant. If you ever wish to leave, just say the word."
Shen Shaoguang hastily bowed. "Your Highness honors me, but this humble country girl is accustomed to freedom and fears she would not serve you well." Her lie was delivered with perfect sincerity.
The princess studied Shen Shaoguang and sighed again. "Very well. It’s just rare to find someone who suits my tastes so well." With that, she slid off a pair of jewel-embedded gold bracelets from her wrist and handed them to Shen.
Shen accepted them with both hands. "Your Highness’s gift is far too generous."
Princess Fuhui smiled. "Consider it payment for the meal." Then, with her hands behind her back, she strode out.
Standing at the door, watching the retreating figure on horseback, Shen Shaoguang discreetly rubbed the gemstones on the bracelets in her sleeve, overwhelmed with emotion. She had once thought Li Bai’s line about trading "a dappled horse and a fur worth a thousand gold" for wine was mere poetic exaggeration—but it seemed it might have been true after all. The princess was truly bold, truly magnanimous, truly likable!
Shen Shaoguang turned her head and met a pair of peach-blossom eyes. Pei Fei gave her a smile that was both relieved and resigned.
She returned the smile before asking with mock seriousness, "Would the gentleman like to go back in and continue eating?"
Pei Fei thought the way this Shen Xiao Niangzi feigned solemnity was exactly like Lin Yan’s—utterly detestable.
He turned and left. Though not particularly close to him, Shen Shaoguang was certain he wasn’t truly angry. She chuckled and walked back into the shop.
On the last day of the year, landing such a lucrative deal felt like an excellent omen!
Truth be told, seeing Princess Fuhui today had been a surprise. Though not the emperor’s full sister, she held considerable influence in the palace. Her chosen consort had been a fine man, but he had suffered grave injuries in the campaign against Tibet and was now little more than a living corpse.
Years had passed, and while the princess cared for her consort diligently, it didn’t stop her from seeking out agreeable young men.
It was said that the empress dowager and the emperor had both advised her against it. The princess had replied, "My consort served the nation with loyalty—of course I must do my utmost to care for him." As for the young men, "But I can’t neglect myself either..."
The princess continued as she pleased, and the empress dowager and emperor stopped pressing the matter.
Thinking back to Miss Chu from the other day and comparing her to today’s Li Sixth Miss, Shen Shaoguang savored the different flavors of their attitudes toward love and marriage.Hey, why think so much? It's New Year, New Year! After seeing off the noon customers and cleaning up the shop, Shen Shaoguang called Yu San and A Yuan to close up for the holiday—we're taking a break for the New Year!
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