In the evening, Pang Erniang arrived as promised, and Shen Shaoguang led her to a quiet corner table. On the wall shelf above the table stood a white porcelain pot of garlic sprouts. Shen Shaoguang had accidentally let them grow past their tender stage, and now they were too old to eat. Left with no choice, she had to keep them as decorative plants, waiting for them to wither. Though inedible, their lush greenery still made for a pleasant sight.
Beside the garlic sprouts was a leather doll she had picked up from the West Market, its lips and cheeks painted with vermilion, exuding a silly yet cheerful charm.
Pang Erniang took her seat beneath the garlic sprouts and the silly doll. When Shen Shaoguang asked what she’d like to eat, Pang Erniang didn’t truly expect any rare delicacies from this humble tavern. After all, how could a common eatery compare to the kitchens of a duke’s mansion?
But since she had come under the pretense of dining, she had to play the part. Pang Erniang told her to serve whatever was tasty.
Such extravagance! Shen Shaoguang promptly brought out five or six expensive dishes, including squirrel-shaped fish, along with soup, staple foods, and desserts, filling the table to the brim.
At the sight of the vibrant squirrel fish on the porcelain plate, the ruby-red Agate meat, the emerald-green Jade dumplings, and the snow-white monkey-brain tofu, Pang Erniang found herself salivating involuntarily. Just the presentation alone… was quite impressive for a common eatery. No wonder the place had been so crowded at noon, and no wonder Yuanjue was fond of it.
Pang Erniang first took a bite of the squirrel fish—sweet, sour, and savory. It was genuinely delicious!
She couldn’t help but take a few more bites.
The maids attending her were surprised. Their mistress was usually quite picky about food—when had she ever gone back for seconds like this?
Next, Pang Erniang ate a piece of Agate meat and four or five small Jade dumplings. The monkey-brain tofu, somehow prepared without a hint of beaniness, was incredibly fresh and tender, and she finished half a bowl of it. The jade tip noodles had an almost imperial banquet quality—delicate in appearance and fragrant in filling—and she absentmindedly ate three of them. The Qingtuan in another dish, with its green outer layer and red bean paste filling, wasn’t overly sweet but had a soft, glutinous texture, making it a fitting springtime treat. Pang Erniang helped herself to one more…
Under the astonished and slightly concerned gazes of her maids, Pang Erniang lived up to expectations—she overate.
After tending to other tasks, Shen Shaoguang returned to check on her. Seeing the remnants on the table and Pang Erniang lounging contentedly after her meal, she thought, Wow, she’s got quite the appetite. From her earlier demeanor, I’d have guessed she lived on air and smoke.
Pleased that her dishes were well-received, Shen Shaoguang personally brewed a bowl of hawthorn and licorice Fruit Drink to aid digestion, lest the heavy meal cause discomfort later.
The weather had turned worse, and the evening rain grew heavier. The tavern wasn’t very busy, especially after peak hours, leaving only Pang Erniang’s table occupied.
Finally able to relax, Shen Shaoguang brought over a cup of osmanthus honey water and sat down with Pang Erniang.
The rain pattered against the peach-blossom oiled paper windows, creating a soft rustling sound. The candlelight flickered slightly as the two chatted idly across the table.
What could they talk about? Just the latest trends in the capital—how peony-shaped hairdos looked better slightly tilted, how gold foil Floral stickers seemed tacky in spring and summer compared to kingfisher feather ones, and how the distant mountain eyebrows were making a comeback…"Look at my eyebrows," Pang Erniang leaned in closer, "I've already changed them."
Shen Shaoguang nodded deeply, "They do look much better than the previous connected eyebrows. Those connected eyebrows were probably made specifically for Ganjiang and Moye's son. Ordinary people like us can't pull them off."
Pang Erniang didn't know the allusion to "Mei Jian Chi," but she also felt that connected eyebrows weren't attractive. However, they were all the rage in the palace—trendy makeup, trendy makeup. If you didn't follow the trend, wouldn't you seem outdated?
Shen Shaoguang thought this girl was poisoned by fashion. Fashion and beauty were two entirely different things! To save Pang Erniang's makeup and style, Shen Shaoguang decided to sell her a famous quote from Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, a millennium later: "A Madame Xiang once said, 'Fashion fades, but style is eternal.' Think about it—doesn't that make sense?"
The charm of famous quotes lies in their ability to transcend time and space, stunning people no matter the era. Pang Erniang frowned, pondering the words, and the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. She also wondered about the person who said it. She didn't know which noble family in the capital bore the surname Xiang, but since her own family was newly prominent and she hadn't studied genealogy seriously, she didn't dare ask, afraid of revealing her ignorance in front of Shen Shaoguang.
Pang Erniang then belatedly realized that this Young Lady Shen seemed to know a great deal about the capital's trends. How did she, living in the mundane world of daily necessities, know so much?
Shen Shaoguang smiled faintly, "Though fashion fades, beauty is eternal."
She dipped her finger in wine and drew a face on the table, explaining the concept of "three divisions and five eyes" to Pang Erniang. "Generally speaking, the closer one's features are to this standard, the more attractive they are. When we apply makeup, it's to compensate for shortcomings and bring our features closer to this ideal."
Pang Erniang felt as if a new world had opened before her. She stared in amazement at Shen Shaoguang, then at the wine-drawn face on the table, and after a moment of thought, nodded vigorously.
Seeing her as a teachable student, Shen Shaoguang continued enthusiastically, "A couple of years ago, the trend was tiny red bean lips—just a small dot on a face as round as a silver basin. Was that really beautiful? And then there was the 'open forehead' trend." Speaking of this fashion, Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but criticize, "Shaving the hairline to make the forehead as wide as Zhuque Avenue—what was the point? Planning to drive a carriage across it? Or was the face, already adorned with dimples makeup and floral stickers, too cramped for maneuvers, needing more space?"
Pang Erniang burst out laughing. Of all the trends, the only one she hadn't followed was the "open forehead." It truly wasn't attractive, yet it was undeniably popular—lasting even longer than the various eyebrow styles.
They chatted until nearly curfew before Pang Erniang finally left. Only then did she remember that she hadn't managed to catch Lord Lin today. She had been so engrossed in their conversation that she'd completely forgotten about it...
Shen Shaoguang waved cheerfully, "See you tomorrow, Erniang."
After tossing the silver Pang Erniang's maid had left at the counter into her small money pouch, Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes with a smile. There must be at least a tael of silver in there as a lecture fee—knowledge truly was wealth...
Pang Erniang came daily to hang out with Shen Shaoguang. After seven or eight days, her face had grown noticeably rounder when she finally encountered Lord Lin.
Lin Yan, having worked late again, was returning past curfew when he noticed the light from Shen's Shop. He stepped out of his carriage, dismissed his attendants, and walked in slowly.Upon entering, the sound of Young Lady Shen's laughter could be heard. "Applying makeup is like writing an essay—it requires a sense of proportion and emphasis. If one's eyes and brows are well-shaped, highlight them. If the lips are pretty, focus on painting them red. If the whole face is covered in heavy colors, trying to emphasize everything, it becomes like a painter's palette..."
The art of writing, proportion and emphasis... Lin Yan walked around the small screen and saw Young Lady Shen and Pang Erniang in the corner.
Meeting Pang Erniang's suddenly brightened eyes, Lin Yan lowered his gaze, gave her a slight nod, and headed toward a seat diagonally across the room.
Shen Shaoguang turned her head. Erniang's persistence had finally paid off—after spending over twenty taels of silver, she had at last encountered him.
Pang Erniang lightly touched the peach blossom hairpin at her temple, straightened her collar, and raised an eyebrow at Shen Shaoguang, silently asking if her attire and makeup were appropriate.
Shen Shaoguang nodded affirmatively. Today, Pang Erniang was indeed beautiful—her charming peach blossom makeup, floral-patterned blouse, and youthful innocence made her far more attractive than the gaudy appearance she had sported when they first met last year. Erniang had a real talent for dressing up.
"Lord Lin—" Pang Erniang stepped forward and curtsied.
Shen Shaoguang retreated to the kitchen and stopped A Yuan, who was about to serve tea, to avoid any awkwardness.
"Lord Lin, you're dining so late—the yamen must be very busy," came the young woman's cheerful voice.
"One must fulfill one's duties," replied the indifferent male voice.
"Lord Lin, are you busy with preparations for the Shangsi Festival the day after tomorrow? Will you be going to Qujiang? I heard this year’s newly appointed jinshi scholars will be flower-picking at Qujiang—is that true?"
"Yes." It was unclear which of the three questions this "yes" referred to.
"They say Lord Lin was once a Flower-Picking Scholar too—is that true?" The hope and shyness in her voice tugged at Shen Shaoguang's heartstrings. Ah, the tender feelings of a young girl...
But who would have thought the stern Lord Lin had such a romantic past? Then again, considering his looks and demeanor, it wasn’t surprising he’d been chosen as the Flower-Picking Scholar. Back then, the title wasn’t reserved for the third-ranked jinshi but was a temporary, elegant role given to the youngest and most handsome scholar, tasked with visiting famous gardens to pick flowers.
"It's late. You should return home soon," came the increasingly cold reply.
"I—I wanted to ask—"
"You should go." Pang Erniang's words were firmly cut off.
Pang Erniang understood. Her large eyes welled up with tears. Biting her lip, she stamped her foot and turned to leave.
Only after hearing the door close did Shen Shaoguang allow A Yuan to serve the tea.
When Pang Erniang first spoke, Yu San had thought Lord Lin was being improper, toying with her affections. But upon hearing his blunt rejection, he decided the man was heartless, incapable of appreciating beauty. Frowning, Yu San shot Shen Shaoguang a glance—what kind of taste did she have, only caring about looks?
Shen Shaoguang brought out the menu and asked Lin Yan with a smile, "What would Lord Lin like to eat today?"
Hearing her formal "Lord Lin," in contrast to Pang Erniang's affectionate "Lin Lang," Lin Yan pressed his lips together. "Whatever the young lady recommends will do."
"Very well! Please wait a moment, my lord!" Shen Shaoguang took back the menu, still smiling.
At this generic "my lord," stripped of even his surname as if he were any ordinary customer, Lin Yan's lips pressed even tighter.Shen Shaoguang returned to the kitchen and instructed Yu San to prepare stir-fried eggs with tender yellow chives for Lin Yan, stir-fried cured meat with scallions, a cold dish of spring greens, steamed tofu, and personally chopped coriander to mix with minced meat for a light boiled meatball soup. Working together, they finished quickly, adding pepper-salt steamed buns before having A Yuan deliver the dishes on a tray.
After a while, estimating they had eaten enough, Shen Shaoguang came out to ask, "Lord Lin, would you like anything else?"
Lin Yan paused, lowering his eyes as he replied, "It was excellent. The vegetables were very tender, and the meatballs were fragrant. Thank you."
"..." Oh, Aunt Mary's apple pie! What did I just hear? Lord Lin actually praised the food! What on earth happened to this gentleman?
"Please don't stand on ceremony, Lord Lin," Shen Shaoguang said with a forced smile.
Lin Yan glanced at her before lowering his head to pick up his teacup.
Author's note: Lord Lin: Grandmother said I should praise more, but it doesn’t seem to be working... Or perhaps I still haven’t praised enough?
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