During the evening meal, Grand Madam Jiang smiled and asked, "Was the rose dew a gift from His Majesty? Why didn't I see the yellow label? Truly an item from the palace—so rich and fragrant."
During festivals, the emperor would bestow gifts upon nobles and officials—summer treats like sweet cheese and cherries, winter items like lip rouge and facial ointments, along with seasonal meats, vegetables, and wines. Though not particularly valuable, they symbolized the emperor's care and closeness. Since Lin Yan had returned to the capital from his provincial post to serve as Deputy Chief, such gifts had become frequent.
"It wasn't from His Majesty," Lin Yan replied as he carefully picked out the peppercorns from a small bowl of fish slices he had served his grandmother. "I happened to come across some roses and thought it a pity to waste them, so I asked Shen's Shop to help preserve them in honey and sugar."
He paused briefly before adding, "Young Lady Shen went to the trouble of distilling some rose dew for us as well."
Grand Madam Jiang chuckled. "No wonder! I was wondering why there was no yellow label. So young ladies still enjoy distilling flower dew these days? Young Lady Shen's craftsmanship is excellent. When I was young, my sisters and I loved doing this too—jasmine in spring, roses in summer, osmanthus in autumn. Some even tried distilling plum blossoms, claiming it had a cold, delicate fragrance." She was reminiscing about her maiden years.
"When your grandfather was stationed in Hangzhou, I once distilled a blend of several flowers. It turned out wonderfully, and I gifted it to friends and family as 'Hundred Flowers Dew,'" she continued, now recalling her married life.
"Later, as life grew busier, I gradually stopped. And then your mother..." She trailed off and forced a smile. "I remember these trivial old matters so clearly, yet I can't recall what I ate this morning. My forgetfulness is truly peculiar."
Lin Yan handed her the bowl and said gently, "You've been taking Physician Fang's new prescription, and it seems to be helping. Besides, whether you remember breakfast or not hardly matters."
"Forgetting breakfast is one thing, but forgetting people and events would be troublesome. If I were in better health, I could help you find a suitable bride."
Lin Yan lowered his eyes and smiled faintly. "That doesn't matter either."
Grand Madam Jiang shook her head disapprovingly.
Lin Yan then offered her half a glutinous rice dumpling on a small plate—a treat not easily digested, so he only let her have a taste. With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, this was the first batch of freshly steamed dumplings this year.
Looking at the dumpling, Grand Madam Jiang suddenly remarked, "With my eldest grandson so thoughtful, handsome, and capable, how could he fail to win a fine young lady's heart?"
The maids were taken aback, then burst into laughter—even Lin Yan smiled.
Gazing at her now-grown, dashing grandson, Grand Madam Jiang felt both melancholy and pride. She sighed quietly to herself before joining in the laughter.
After the meal, she reminded him once more, "The path is slippery—be careful." Lin Yan acknowledged her words with a bow, then stepped out onto the veranda, slipped on his wooden clogs, raised an umbrella, and left his grandmother's courtyard, slowly making his way back to his study.
The evening rain had dampened business at Shen's Shop. By the time the second night watch began, there were no more customers.
The four of them tidied up, and Yu San asked, "What should we have for dinner tonight?" Even the best cooks sometimes ran out of ideas.
Shen Shaoguang grinned. "Didn't we just order new skewers for grilling? There's still some meat left today—let's just barbecue!"
Yu San frowned. "But we don't have the proper grill yet. It won't arrive for another couple of days."Shen Shaoguang laughed, "Silly girl! Just make do with the charcoal brazier we use for heating in winter for now."
Yu San: "..."
Knowing that the young mistress was one to act on whims, and with A Yuan already fetching the brazier, Yu San resigned himself to slicing and marinating the meat.
Shen Shaoguang pitched in too. Once Yu San finished slicing, she marinated the meat with pepper, salt, sugar, soy sauce, yellow wine, and starch. The cumin powder would be sprinkled on during grilling.
Cumin was called "Anise from Persia" at this time. Like wolfberries and hawthorns, it was bought from herbal medicine shops, said to regulate qi, stimulate appetite, and dispel wind to relieve pain. Whether it could truly dispel wind, Shen Shaoguang didn't know, but its appetite-stimulating properties were undeniable—sprinkled on grilled meat, it enhanced the aroma by 30%.
It was a pity its good companion chili pepper wasn't available, or the fragrance could have wafted for miles, tempting the entire neighborhood.
Through the window, Shen Shaoguang watched the rain outside. This year had seen frequent showers. If not for the rain, grilling in the courtyard would have been ideal—doing it indoors made the smell rather overpowering...
As luck would have it, by the time the meat was marinated and vegetables prepared, the rain gradually ceased, with a few fresh stars even peeking through the twilight.
Shen Shaoguang busied herself moving the table, brazier, meat, and vegetables to the courtyard.
The summer heat had receded after the rain, and the brick pavement was washed clean. They laid out bamboo mats previously used in the shop, set up the table, and scattered cushions around it. Shen Shaoguang leaned against a leaning pillow, fanning herself with a small round fan while watching Yu San grill the meat.
Impatient, A Yuan cracked walnuts with a hammer nearby for a snack. Shen Shaoguang occasionally reached out, and A Yuan shared half with her each time.
Suddenly, Shen Shaoguang felt a hint of the poetic scene: "Cool as water the night on the steps of heaven, lying down to watch the Cowherd and Weaver Maid stars." Except that verse described the Qixi Festival, while here it wasn't even Dragon Boat Festival yet. That scene was serene, whereas here the air was thick with the aroma of grilled meat... "Autumn light on silver candles chills painted screens"—should she bring out the painted screen gifted by the Lin residence to match the mood?
But Shen Shaoguang suspected the "painted screen" in the poem wasn't the large standing floor screen but rather the small bedside screen placed before pillows to block drafts, as described in verses like "bamboo pillow, silk quilt, plain small screen," or "small screen mountains of autumn hues by the bed," or "paper screen, stone pillow, bamboo daybed, tired hands dropping books in long noonday dreams"...
Bedside screens were private items, often painted with various motifs. Shen Shaoguang had once read a romance where a beauty painted on a scholar's bedside screen stepped down... She smirked mischievously—that scholar's screen was probably of the same ilk as the Amorous Mirror from Dream of the Red Chamber .
Thinking of screens naturally led to thoughts of the giver. She wondered what was painted on the bedside screen of that seemingly prim and proper Lord Lin.
This Lord Lin puzzled Shen Shaoguang somewhat. She knew her shop's food was delicious, but was it truly good enough to make a pampered noble youth and the well-traveled Vice Minister of the Capital treat this place like their daily canteen?
Then there were those excessively polite and elaborate return gifts. The first time might have been coincidental—it happened during her property purchase. But this time...
Yet beyond this, there were no other unusual signs.
Could someone as aloof, rational, talented, and well-connected as Lord Lin possibly be in love with me?
Shen Shaoguang mentally scoffed at herself. This kind of self-delusion was a disease that needed curing! Maybe he was just wealthy and meticulous with etiquette? Aristocrats were notorious for their fastidious habits—what eccentricities didn't they have?Wang Ziyou once traveled by boat in the middle of a snowy night to visit a friend, only to turn back upon reaching their doorstep. If Dai Andao had overthought it, he might have suspected the young man harbored some unspeakable secret affection for him.
Taking another turn, even if Lord Lin did have some intentions, so what? Marriages without equal social standing have too slim a chance of happiness. Marriage is like a corporate merger, involving cooperation and contention over assets, personnel, and multiple other aspects. It’s hardly something that can guarantee smooth collaboration and long-term mutual success just because there’s "affection."
Thinking of "affection"... Shen Shaoguang smiled to herself. Life had already been turbulent enough for A Qi—there was really no need to stir up more waves in marriage. Living peacefully in this humble little courtyard, grilling meat and eating sesame flatbread, was just fine.
Shen Shaoguang looked up at the stars in the sky. When she grew old, would she regret not having thrown herself into passion like Miss Chu, or indulged more freely like the Grand Princess Fuhui?
Hearing someone say, "My lord, mind your step," she turned her head and saw Lord Lin at the courtyard gate.
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
A Chang smiled apologetically. "This servant went to fetch wine earlier and happened to see Lord Lin arriving..."
So you just brought him straight to the private residence? Shen Shaoguang knew A Chang’s flaw—he became flustered around "nobility."
Well, since he was here, she might as well make the best of it. "If my lord doesn’t mind, please join us for some grilled meat," Shen Shaoguang said with a smile as she stood up.
Lin Yan nodded. "I apologize for the intrusion."
Lin Yan had never in his life done something as "improper" as entering a woman’s residence at night, and he felt somewhat uneasy, though his expression grew even more solemn.
Shen Shaoguang glanced at him. Here he was, clearly here to mooch grilled meat, yet he looked like he was presiding over an executive meeting...
Yu San expressionlessly handed the skewers of grilled lamb, chicken, pork belly, tofu, gluten, and vegetables to A Chang, who arranged them on large plates to serve the guest and his mistress. Unsure whether he should remove the skewers and cut the meat into smaller pieces for the guest, A Chang hesitated until Lin Yan said gently, "I’ll manage on my own, thank you."
The rest of the grilled items were taken by Yu San, who also picked up a plate of flatbread and retreated to the house with A Chang and A Yuan to eat.
Shen Shaoguang smiled at Lin Yan. "Please help yourself, my lord. Don’t stand on ceremony."
Lin Yan smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your fine wine and delicacies, Miss Shen."
Originally, she had wanted to recreate the nightlife of sitting on a small stool, wearing slippers and a loose shirt, chowing down on skewers and drinking beer. Instead, it had turned into a formal social dinner. Shen Shaoguang couldn’t very well tear into the meat with her teeth now, so she had to slide the meat off the skewers onto her plate and eat it with chopsticks—it just didn’t taste the same.
Staying silent while eating would have been awkward, so after a few bites and a sip of wine, Shen Shaoguang began rambling: "The charcoal today isn’t ideal. Pinewood charcoal is best—it gives the meat a piney aroma. Fruitwood or jujube wood charcoal works too, adding a hint of sweetness."
"If those aren’t available, tossing some pinecones onto the charcoal fire achieves the same effect," she added.
"Is that a method from the palace?" Lin Yan asked with a smile.
"The palace wouldn’t bother with such trivialities. This was an idea from an old gentleman named Liang." Shen Shaoguang held great respect for Mr. Liang Shiqiu and thought she might search for pinecones in the mountains during the Double Ninth Festival outing.
"Even as it is, this is already quite delicious," Lin Yan said softly, his eyes lowered as he smiled at the table.Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes with a smile. Lord Lin was becoming increasingly adept at giving compliments.
Shen Shaoguang added, "I haven't yet thanked your household for the screen you sent. The Dowager is truly too kind."
"Today, my grandmother highly praised the distilled flower dew you made, saying it was 'rich, mellow, and wonderfully fragrant.' Please don't stand on ceremony either."
Hearing his straightforward words, Shen Shaoguang thought perhaps she had been overthinking things and immediately brightened. "It's just that my humble abode with its bamboo windows is rather crude. Placing such an elegant and exquisite item here seems almost wasteful."
Lin Yan glanced at the peach tree by the window, the lush vines covering the walls, and the verdant vegetable patch nearby, smiling as he said, "'Elms and willows shade the back eaves, peach and plum trees line the hall's front.' How could this be called crude?"
Ha, it seems every scholar harbors a recluse's dream—those in high positions yearn for pastoral simplicity and the joys of fishing and woodcutting, while those in humble circumstances aspire to advise rulers and bring peace to the people, longing for the purple robes and jade belts of office. Tsk, tsk...
"Lord Lin's refined elegance is beyond what a common person like me could ever attain," Shen Shaoguang said with a laugh.
Lin Yan glanced at her smiling face. Her words didn't match her thoughts—such glib and artful speech!
At the thought of "artful," Lin Yan lowered his head to take another sip of wine. In his peripheral vision, that lovely face, illuminated by the crimson lantern light, put even the most beautiful peach and plum blossoms to shame.
Author's Note:
① Excerpts respectively from Li Gang's "Gan Huang En · On the Pillow," Mao Pang's "Zhu Ying Yao Hong · Waking from a Noon Dream by the Pine Window," and Cai Que's "Summer Day Ascending Chegai Pavilion."
② This reference borrows from the Southern Song Hong Mai's "Yijian Zhi" story "Old Man Cheng's Pillow Screen."
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