People endured the scorching summer day by day until the arrival of Autumn Begins, yet there were no falling phoenix tree leaves. The sun remained blazing, cicadas still chirped restlessly, and the sleeping mat still stuck to one's back upon waking. Faced with such an Autumn Begins, Shen Shaoguang truly had no mood for "autumn fattening."
After enduring several more days into the Last Dog Days, the sky turned overcast with a faint breeze, finally bringing a hint of "autumn atmosphere." Shen Shaoguang perked up and declared she wanted to eat "Pancake Omelet."
She made numerous demands: the pancake had to be thicker with seven or eight layers inside—no thin spring pancakes, no leavened dough, no meat fillings, no pepper-salt seasoning, no pickled toon shoots, and not too many scallions... For a pancake meant to wrap eggs, all those additions were "Heretical Claims." She insisted on only salt and oil in the pancake to avoid overpowering the flavors of the fillings.
Yu San was both exasperated and amused: "Then should the scrambled eggs also only have salt? Or just egg whites? Or just yolks?"
Shen Shaoguang quipped with internet-era humor: "Eggs and scallions are the perfect match. Scrambled eggs without scallions have no soul."
Yu San scoffed, "Soul..."
Shen Shaoguang pondered, "Wrapping lamb skewers in the pancake would also be good, or fried meatballs, fried quail eggs, fried eggplant pockets... Hmm, even small fried fish or shrimp would be nice—crispy and crunchy. Actually, our braised pig ears and braised pork cheeks would also be great wrapped in pancakes."
Yu San didn’t even bother scoffing anymore.
Shen Shaoguang had simply gotten carried away. Seeing Princess Yu San's expression, she quickly backtracked: "Just eggs, just eggs..."
A Yuan and A Chang burst into laughter.
Shen Shaoguang felt she had no dignity left as the boss.
By noon, Shen Shaoguang finally got her pancake wrapped with everything and ended up overeating. While she was eating, early customers saw her and ordered the same. Word spread, and the Tang Dynasty folks celebrated an authentic Last Dog Days—"Dumplings in the First Dog Days, noodles in the Second, and pancake omelet in the Third."
Watching the customers in the dining hall holding rolled pancakes thicker than their arms, eating them either elegantly or heartily, Yu San truly lost all temper. If eating spring pancakes during spring was about novelty, what was so special about wrapping meat, eggs, and vegetables in pancakes now? Was it really necessary?
From behind the counter, Shen Shaoguang smiled contentedly at the customers she had successfully converted. Her gaze swept over one particularly graceful and composed figure, and she thought of Lord Lin. She wondered what it would look like to see the refined and dignified Lord Lin biting into a giant pancake.
Lately, Lord Lin seemed busy, often only stopping by the small tavern for a short while after dinner, just before closing. Shen Shaoguang guessed he was occupied with the emperor's Autumn Sacrifice and the rumors in the capital. Given his timing, no matter how mischievous she felt, she couldn’t serve him a pancake wrapped with everything. Instead, she prepared a bowl of steamed honey milk custard or simply served him a Peach Cream Drink.
While the small tavern enjoyed peaceful days, the atmosphere outside grew tense. Rumors spread that many toads had died in Toad Gulch northwest of the city, stirring discussions among the capital's residents. Rice prices in grain shops soared, some stores only opened for half a day, and notices of shortages were posted. Fearing they couldn’t buy grain, people lined up outside the shops, reminding Shen Shaoguang of her past life’s salt-panic scenes.A Yuan asked, "Miss, should we also stock up on more grain? I heard people saying, 'The fiery Bingxu year, the difficult Dinghai year.' Isn’t this year Bingxu? Will something happen next year? Could we really run out of food?"
Shen Shaoguang had already stocked up on grain in the back storeroom when the rumors first started, enough to last the small tavern for two months. Now, she wasn’t worried—two months should be enough for the court to resolve the matter. If they couldn’t, chaos would likely follow, and hoarding more grain wouldn’t help. In fact, it might even invite trouble.
She reassured A Yuan, "Silly child, how can there be so many prophecies? Although it’s been hot this year, the rainfall has been decent. Qu Dàláng, the fish seller, said the summer harvest was fine, and the autumn harvest shouldn’t be a problem either. So, rest easy."
A Yuan, convinced by her reasoning, stopped worrying. A Chang, who never concerned himself with such matters, simply followed Shen Shaoguang’s lead. Yu San had already asked about it when Shen Shaoguang began stockpiling grain over half a month ago. Now, seeing grain prices in the capital rise exactly as she had predicted, he shook his head and retreated into the kitchen to focus on his work.
On the last day of the late summer heat, a light drizzle fell outside, accompanied by a gentle breeze, making the weather pleasantly cool.
Yu San, who usually wore a cold expression, glanced at the sky and remarked, "Each autumn rain brings more chill."
Shen Shaoguang laughed. Was this really autumn rain? She was sure the heat would return as soon as the skies cleared.
Yu San shot her a look, and Shen Shaoguang quickly composed herself. Remembering her mention of "autumn fattening" a few days earlier, Yu San suddenly said, "Today’s the day to fatten up."
Clearly, this cool rain had pleased Princess Yu San. To keep her happy, Shen Shaoguang smiled and said, "If the butcher comes, see if he has any pork knuckles. I’ll stew them for you."
As Shen Shaoguang had predicted, there were indeed knuckles today—large, fatty, and fresh. She bought both.
While cleaning the knuckles, the neighborhood watchman struck his gong, posting official notices at the district gates and major intersections. Shen Shaoguang soaked the knuckles in water, washed her hands, grabbed an umbrella, and went out to see.
Wow! They had actually caught the instigators of the prophetic rumors!
The culprits were the Taoist priests from the Temple of Mysterious Truth. The temple’s abbot, Qingxu, was a so-called "renowned scholar" who had descended from Zhongnan Mountain. He had fabricated the Prophetic Utterances, ordered his disciples to spread them, and even sent people to poison frogs, attempting to stir unrest. According to his disciples, their next steps included poisoning wells and using Nightmare Spells to create disasters. Qingxu would then step forward to "ward off calamities," seeking fame and profit.
"It was him!" The crowd erupted in shock.
Unable to push to the front, Shen Shaoguang listened to the explanations from the back.
"He looked so ethereal and virtuous—who’d have thought he was like this! He was even a guest of honor at the banquet hosted by Lu Shaoqing of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. It seems this Taoist was acquainted with many nobles."
"You don’t know? The temple was donated by a former residence of Han Cishi."
Amid the explanations, curses dominated.
"That damned Taoist is truly vile! For his own selfish gain, he tried to create disasters!"
"They deserve to be arrested and executed. All this panic lately was their doing."
"Damn them! They’ve caused so much trouble. Honestly, I didn’t even restock new goods—I was considering fleeing with my family to Shannan Circuit for safety."Some praised the emperor, saying, "Thanks to His Majesty's divine wisdom and the blessings of heaven upon our Great Tang, these petty schemes of villains have been thwarted."
Others with more insight remarked, "The notice bears the seal of the Capital Prefecture. The Capital Prefecture handled this matter well!"
"The Deputy Chief of the Capital Prefecture lives in our ward. Who would have thought such a dashing young man could be so resolute and decisive..."
Shen Shaoguang overheard these varied comments as she returned to continue preparing her pork knuckles.
In Shen Shaoguang's opinion, the neighbor's praise for Lord Lin was likely not misplaced. The Chief of the Capital Prefecture, Bai Fuyin, was notoriously shrewd. Recently, when Uncle Chu visited, he got drunk and shared old stories about this "old acquaintance," mentioning how Bai had been trying to secure an outpost assignment to avoid court intrigues, only to be dragged back to the troublesome Capital Prefecture.
This case of Prophetic Utterances had initially shown no movement, then suddenly erupted like a storm, swiftly dealing with the "revered scholar" who enjoyed high esteem among the gentry. Such bold and iron-fisted action probably didn't come from the shrewd old fox. In fact, Lord Lin must have had to argue extensively with Bai Fuyin to push this through. And then there was the public notice "to make it known"... Shen Shaoguang recalled Lord Lin's words that day.
"The Deputy Chief is such a dashing young man, who would have thought he could be so resolute and decisive..." Indeed, he also seemed to be a man of his word.
However, the notice's account seemed somewhat incomplete. Could a group of Taoist priests really have the influence to stir unrest in the capital? Going to such lengths, risking execution, just to sell charms for fame and profit? That didn't quite align with the economics of crime.
Shen Shaoguang shook her head and changed the water soaking the pork knuckles.
Since these weren't for a banquet but for personal consumption, both knuckles had been chopped into chunks—easier to cook, quicker to absorb flavors, and simpler to color.
Once the meat had soaked sufficiently, she blanched it in cold water to remove impurities and blood, letting it boil briefly before draining.
She heated oil in a wok, added a generous amount of sugar, and once it bubbled vigorously, tossed in the blanched pork. After stir-frying, she added a splash of clear soy sauce and rice wine, then threw in scallions, ginger, and a spice pouch containing cinnamon and tangerine peel, letting it all simmer.
As the rich aroma of meat filled the kitchen, Shen Shaoguang glanced out the open window. The rain seemed heavier now. Under the eaves, A Yuan was feeding the stray cats, who appeared only mildly hungry, eating with surprising elegance. A sudden sense of contentment washed over her. Social stability was indeed precious—better to be a cat in peaceful times than a human in chaos.
Her thoughts turned to the stockpile of rice in her storeroom. She had clearly overstocked. Had she known Lord Lin would act so swiftly, she could have bought less. In this weather, grain was prone to mold...
Lin Yan arrived just as lunch was winding down, but his timing was impeccable. Thanks to Shen Xiao Niangzi's restrictions on A Yuan and A Chang, there was still a bowl of braised pork in the clay pot, allowing Lord Lin to enjoy a meal personally prepared by Young Lady Shen.
A bowl of fragrant rice, a plate of tender, reddish-brown pork knuckles, along with lighter dishes like lily and celery stir-fry, crystal shrimp cakes, and sautéed lettuce—Lin Yan ate with relish.
Shen Shaoguang approached to ask, "Would you prefer winter melon and meatball soup or greens and tofu stew?"
Lin Yan smiled. "The greens and tofu stew, please."Shen Shaoguang nodded, "Adding some cured meat bits would indeed enhance the flavor." Just as she was about to turn away, Lord Lin asked, "Today's meat seems to taste slightly different from usual."
She turned back, "Oh?"
Seeing her expression, Lin Yan knew his guess was right and curled his lips, "It's delicious."
Though the words were simple, Shen Shaoguang seemed to detect a hint of affection in them. She cleared her throat lightly, "Then have some more. It's the season to gain autumn weight, after all. Heh."
"Alright," Lin Yan replied with a smile.
Shen Shaoguang turned back to the kitchen to prepare soup, realizing her willpower drained unusually fast whenever she faced Lord Lin...
Hearing Lord Lin praise the food, A Yuan, who was shelling beans behind the counter, thought, Of course! The young mistress cooked it personally—how could it be the same? Yu Sanlang is still better with fish and lamb. A Yuan grumbled inwardly, The young mistress clearly said this pot of pork knuckle wasn’t for guests and promised to save some for me tonight... Liar!
When Shen Shaoguang brought out the vegetable and tofu soup, Lin Yan had nearly finished his meal.
She served him a small bowl of soup and recalled the morning's events. "This morning, a notice was posted in the ward saying they caught the rumor-monger. That’s good news."
"The Taoist was indeed apprehended, and some information was extracted during interrogation, but—" Given their previous long conversation, Lin Yan didn’t hide the truth from her. "This case isn’t that simple." The notice was mainly posted to "reassure the people."
Shen Shaoguang understood his meaning. In the capital region, stability was paramount. Isn’t peace and security all us common folk ask for? She smiled, "When I said the world is at peace, the rivers clear, and Chang'an prosperous and tranquil, I wasn’t just being polite. It’s truly a blessing to live under the governance of gentlemen like you."
Meeting her sincere gaze, Lin Yan paused for a long moment before replying, "Thank you."
Outside, the rain pattered softly. Inside, the calico cat curled up asleep, while behind the counter, A Yuan shelled beans with a steady rhythm—a scene of perfect serenity.
The lingering heat of late summer was now a spent force. As the seventh month arrived, continuous rain brought genuine coolness. Amid the autumn showers, Shen Ji entered its "Flower Cake season," and with the reputation of the Third Rank Flower Cake, this year's orders for Double Seventh Cakes were especially plentiful.
To the sentimental, the autumn rain was said to be the tears of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl in heaven. One scholar, after tasting the exquisite Double Seventh Cake at Shen Ji in Chongxian Ward, wrote "Green Eyebrows·Double Seventh," prefaced with: "In the seventh month, the autumn rain falls without end. Moved by the tale of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl after savoring the peerless Double Seventh Cake at Shen Ji Tavern, I compose this piece."
"...Before farewells could be spoken,
Years pass before reunion,
Parting’s sorrow weighs heavy.
May hearts stay as one though apart,
Through the rustling rain,
The endless wind."
Shen Shaoguang sighed at the melancholy verses and personally brought ink and brush, inviting the scholar to inscribe it on the poetry wall.
Since learning to write, A Yuan had grown sensitive to characters and asked Shen Shaoguang to explain the poem. After hearing it, A Yuan shook her head, "That Cowherd forced the Weaver Girl—he’s no good man! Now I only hope that S... whatever demon foreigner’s illness gets better soon for the Weaver Girl."
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
She reflected on whether she had murdered A Yuan’s youthful romanticism and resolved to be more careful with her tall tales in the future.
Little did Shen Shaoguang know her casual fabrications had also reached another pair of ears.Lord Lin remained busy, often only stopping by the tavern near closing time for a bowl of Fruit Cream Drink before leaving. Shen Shaoguang surmised that although suspects had been apprehended in the Prophetic Utterances case, there must still be considerable follow-up work. Moreover, there was the matter of the Emperor's Autumn Sacrifice during the Ghost Festival. This year marked the late Emperor's significant birth anniversary, requiring the current Emperor to personally conduct rites at the imperial mausoleum. The imperial procession leaving the capital would inevitably create major disruptions—no department from the Three Chancelleries and Six Ministries to the Nine Courts and Five Directorates, nor the Jingzhao government and prefectures along the route, would be idle.
Only once did he arrive in the mid-afternoon, when all four staff members at Shen Ji were working overtime to produce Flower Cakes.
To diversify their offerings, Shen Shaoguang had crafted several new molds, including one depicting the Cowherd and Weaver Girl. The original mold had been too large, making the cakes prone to crumbling.
As Lin Yan observed the freshly molded Cowherd and Weaver Girl cakes, he murmured, seemingly to himself yet also as if addressing Shen Shaoguang, who was about to carry away a tray: "Shouldn't such a scoundrel be exiled? Why make a new mold for him?"
Shen Shaoguang glanced at him—was he serious? Had he overheard her earlier remarks, or was this pure coincidence?
Reading her expression, Lin Yan chuckled before adding, "You're right. That Cowherd truly deserves exile."
Shen Shaoguang: "..." She couldn't suppress a laugh either.
In contrast, Young Master Shao proved far more endearing when encountering a similar scene. He even arrived bearing gifts—Flower Cakes from Guixiang Garden. A modest seasonal present, both courteous and thoughtful.
Moreover, Shao Jie had a way with words. Surveying the stacks of cake boxes and the bustling productivity, he exclaimed theatrically, "Your business is so thriving, Young Lady, I'm actually envious!"
Grinning broadly, Shen Shaoguang paused her work to personally brew tea. She arranged both her own Flower Cakes and Shao Jie's offerings on a platter, joining him for tea and pastries.
Shao Jie genuinely enjoyed conversing with Young Lady Shen, though societal proprieties limited their interactions.
"My tenure at the cake shop has finally ended," Shao Jie shared. "I've been transferred to manage the grain store now."
A shift from a declining product line to a core one—was this a promotion? Shen Shaoguang smiled. Considering the Shao family's large grain stores in both the East and West Markets, not to mention their dedicated grain transport boats on the river, it likely was.
"With your shrewdness and capability, you must be excelling at the grain store too?" she inquired playfully.
Shao Jie smirked with pride. "It's going well enough." Then he added, "Though the Jingzhao government deserves most of the credit."
What did the Jingzhao government have to do with it? Shen Shaoguang was puzzled.
"After those rampant rumors—aside from the toad prophecy, there was also that 'Bingxu scorching, Dinghai suffering' nonsense—many grain merchants seized the chance to hoard and inflate prices. Some even went to Jiangnan to stockpile grain. Who'd have thought a single notice from Jingzhao would clear the skies?"
Shen Shaoguang nodded. "I assume you weren't among those hoarding and price-gouging?"
Shao Jie laughed. "Naturally. My family has been in Chang'an for generations—we have principles."
"Admirable," Shen Shaoguang agreed.
The two foxes shared a laugh.
Shao Jie continued, "They were too greedy—blinded by profit."
"Money does obscure judgment," Shen Shaoguang concurred.
"You might not know this, Young Lady, but after the notice was posted, a few major grain merchants tried to resist. Jingzhao simply opened the Ever-Normal Granary to sell grain at fair prices..."
Shen Shaoguang nodded. Such understated tactics... felt strikingly familiar."Not only that, the Jingzhao Prefecture also summoned grain merchants to discuss major industry matters, commending us 'righteous merchants' and selecting Zhou Ruogu, the head of the old Zhou family grain shop, as the 'guild leader,'" Shao Jie said with a smile. "And I managed to snag a 'deputy' position."
Shen Shaoguang promptly congratulated him.
Shao Jie waved his hand with a laugh. "Wait until I become the guild leader before offering congratulations, young lady."
Shen Shaoguang chuckled. "Young Master Shao can't expect to become fat in one bite. Besides, you're still too young—getting fat too quickly wouldn't be good either."
Shao Jie burst into laughter.
After he finished laughing, Shen Shaoguang sighed. "So those hoarders lost both face and profit in the end."
Shao Jie nodded. "They're all panicking now. Losing some money is one thing—they can always recover—but what they really fear is being remembered by the Jingzhao officials. Even Cheng Shiling looks at them differently now." The market overseer was the official in charge of commercial transactions, the direct superior of all merchants.
"Bai Fuyin of Jingzhao, who only made a brief appearance, was quite amiable, while Lord Lin remained as solemn and composed as ever."
Shen Shaoguang nodded. Grain was the lifeline of the nation and its people. After such administrative and economic measures, the grain trade would likely stay quiet for a long time. Jingzhao truly had skillful methods.
These were matters for "those who eat meat to deliberate," and Shen Shaoguang merely chatted about them with friends, letting them pass through her mind idly. Her main focus remained on the Flower Cake business. By the afternoon of the seventh day of the seventh month, the bulk orders for Flower Cakes had all been fulfilled, and the team at Shen Ji could finally take a short breather.
Looking at the slanting wind and light rain outside, Shen Shaoguang rubbed her sore hands from all the work and smiled. "I bet you're all sick of the smell of Flower Cakes by now. How about we eat something different tonight? Eel Noodles, perhaps? Or Dry-Fried Eel Sections?" There was half a bucket of eels in the kitchen.
Because the emperor loved Eel Noodles, many nobles in the capital had developed a taste for them, driving up the price of eels in the summer. But after autumn began, the palace adhered to seasonal customs and stopped serving cold noodles, so eel prices dropped, allowing commoners to indulge.
A Yuan considered for a moment. "Let's have the noodles." The young lady's Eel Noodles were simply too delicious.
A Chang nodded in agreement, while Yu San remained indifferent, busy cleaning the Flower Cake molds.
By evening, due to the weather and the festival, there were very few customers in the shop—only about a dozen, half of whom were regulars, while the other table held five unfamiliar faces.
The regulars arrived early, while the five strangers came just as darkness fell. Hearing Shen Shaoguang mention the excellent eels, one of the newcomers asked, "Can you make Vinegar-Cooked Eel Threads?"
Another man, seemingly the leader of the group, frowned slightly but said nothing.
Shen Shaoguang smiled apologetically. "I'm afraid we don't make that. Would the gentleman like to try Dry-Fried Eel Sections instead? Crispy and fragrant—perfect with wine."
Hearing her say "don't make that," the leader's expression relaxed. "Then Dry-Fried Eel Sections it is. Bring a few of your shop's signature dishes as well."
Shen Shaoguang listed a few specialties and asked what wine they preferred.
The man shook his head.
With a polite "Please wait a moment," Shen Shaoguang turned away, wrinkled her nose slightly, and headed back to the kitchen to relay the order to Yu San.Although these guests weren't drinking, they stayed very late. After seeing off two other regular customers, Shen Shaoguang returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner for her staff. As she sliced eel strips with a small knife, she frowned slightly—those customers outside... Shen Shaoguang felt her persecution complex was acting up again.
"Miss Proprietress—" called a customer from outside.
"Coming!" Shen Shaoguang answered loudly.
"What can I do for you, honored guests?" Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile.
Unexpectedly, the diner sitting at the far end suddenly stood up and reached to grab her shoulder.
Accustomed to physical labor, Shen Shaoguang was quite nimble. Combined with her subconscious wariness, she managed to dodge by taking a quick step back.
Over by the sink, A Yuan, who was clearing the dishes, reacted with surprising speed for someone of her stature. Two plates, splashing with soup, came flying toward the assailants. The man grabbing for Shen Shaoguang instinctively dodged, his hand missing its target once more. The other attackers sprang into action as well. From the kitchen, Yu San and A Chang heard the commotion and rushed out, plunging the scene into chaos.
The five men clearly had Shen Shaoguang as their target. Yu San blocked a strike aimed at her. "Run!" he shouted, swinging his cleaver in an arc that struck one attacker's neck, sending him collapsing to the ground.
Knowing she'd only be a liability, Shen Shaoguang obeyed and bolted for the door, yelling "Thieves!" as she ran. But the weather was poor, and it was already late—the neighboring shops had closed for the night, and the streets were empty. No one came to help.
A Chang brandished a rolling pin but was kicked into the wall by one of the assailants. As the attacker raised his sword to stab him, A Yuan smashed a large soup pot over his head, leaving him bloodied and crumpled on the floor.
The leader of the five and another man with a hooked nose broke past Yu San. The hook-nosed man seized Shen Shaoguang by the shoulder while the leader pressed his sword to her throat. "Nobody move!"
Yu San, A Yuan, and A Chang froze, unwilling to act for fear of endangering her.
The three assailants dragged Shen Shaoguang back toward the inner hall where they had been seated earlier. Yu San and the others followed, locked in a tense standoff.
Shen Shaoguang forced a laugh. "Gentlemen, if you have demands, let's talk. There's no need for this. If it's money you want, take what's in the till. If that's not enough, there's more in the back." She called out, "A Yuan, A Yuan! Go fetch the money chest from the back!"
"Stay where you are!" The leader shifted his sword and tightened his arm around Shen Shaoguang's neck, growling in a low voice.
Choking, Shen Shaoguang coughed twice. "Ease up, sir. Let's talk this through. If you strangle me, it'll be mutual destruction—hardly a good deal, is it?"
The leader loosened his grip slightly.
From this, Shen Shaoguang deduced he had actual demands—not just mindless violence—and likely wouldn't kill her immediately.
"Tell your people to drop their weapons!" the leader demanded.
Now, however, Shen Shaoguang grew defiant. "Then you might as well strangle me."
"You think I won't?" The leader tightened his grip, turning her face red as she gasped for air, her legs kicking wildly.
He relaxed slightly. "Drop your weapons!"
Gulping for breath, Shen Shaoguang still managed a smirk. "That's no way to negotiate. If we disarm, we'd be completely at your mercy—chopped like fish on a board. That's not how bargaining works. Just tell us what you want. As long as we live, we'll comply."
A Chang, who had been trembling and glancing nervously at Yu San and A Yuan, tightened his grip on the rolling pin after hearing his mistress's words.
The leader hesitated, then signaled the hook-nosed man to check on their two fallen comrades. One was dead; the other was merely unconscious. The leader shot Yu San a glare, but Yu San remained expressionless, his cleaver at the ready. The hook-nosed man bolted the shop door shut and tore cloth from his undergarments to bandage his unconscious companion's wounds.
The leader eased his grip on Shen Shaoguang. "You're a sharp one, miss. No wonder the Assistant Magistrate of the Capital takes a liking to you."
Shen Shaoguang gave a dry chuckle. "Just luck, that's all."The bandit leader curled his lips. "I wonder if such a bold and clever young lady could persuade Lord Lin to negotiate a deal with us? Take a token and have that one with the wooden staff deliver it to the Lin residence, summoning him here!"
Seizing this rare "alarm" opportunity, Shen Shaoguang's mind raced on how to send a message. If only Lord Lin were also a time traveler—she could squeeze an SOS with jam on a pancake.
Or perhaps compose a hidden-head poem? But that might be too obvious, easily spotted by the bandits. If too subtle, Lord Lin might miss it.
Better to rely on allusions. She could only hope these men weren't the type who could kill with blades and compose poetry with brushes... It was a gamble she had to take.
Shen Shaoguang smiled. "There's no token, but I can write him a note."
As she pondered her "distress message," knocking sounded at the door.
The bandit leader signaled her to respond. Raising her voice, Shen Shaoguang called out, "We closed early today to celebrate the Cowherd and Weaver Maid festival. Please come another day."
Footsteps retreated outside.
The two bandits guarding the door turned back, but suddenly—BANG!—the door was kicked open.
Two attendants and Lord Lin stood at the entrance.
Shen Shaoguang smiled bitterly. Just three people... She wondered about Lord Lin and his men's combat skills.
The bandit leader grinned. "Perfect. Saves the young lady from sending a message."
Lin Yan stepped forward slowly. "What do you want?"
"Just a handwritten order from you, allowing my men to visit an old friend in prison." The arrested Taoist Priests were being jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Capital Office, still held in the Capital Office prison.
"Rest assured, we'll only speak briefly. Your men can supervise."
Lin Yan studied the bandit leader, then nodded. "Agreed."
The leader was taken aback by the high-ranking official's easy compliance.
"Anything else?" Lin Yan asked coolly.
"Just your assistance in helping us leave the city," the leader promised. "Once we're out, we'll release the young lady."
Lin Yan glanced at Shen Shaoguang. Unsure if this was his intent, she whimpered pitifully, "Yan Lang—I'm scared—"
Though he knew she was acting, Lin Yan's heart clenched nonetheless.
Gazing at her deeply, he sighed with exaggerated romantic concern. "Why trouble an innocent woman? Besides," he eyed the injured bandit, "in your condition, could you even leave the city?"
The leader frowned. He'd planned to leave his wounded comrade hiding in the city, though taking him along would be ideal.
"Here's my offer: I'll take her place. There's no court session tomorrow—I'll personally escort you out," Lin Yan proposed.
This time, the bandit leader was truly stunned. Both attendants shot their master a glance. Even Shen Shaoguang paused in surprise. Yu San tightened his grip on the cleaver, while A Yuan focused intently on the arm restraining her mistress.
Lin Yan slightly frowned, exuding impatience fitting his status. "Well?"
The leader suspected a trap, but the temptation was irresistible. With Lord Lin as hostage, the possibilities were endless...
There was no time for deliberation. Gritting his teeth, the leader swallowed hard. "Fine! First, remove your sword."Lin Yan was dressed in his official robes today, wearing the sword befitting his rank—officials carrying swords was a ceremonial custom, and many blades were never even sharpened. Lin Yan unfastened his sword and casually tossed it to the ground, slowly walking toward the bandits. "Let her go," he said.
The bandit leader pushed Shen Shaoguang aside, while the hook-nosed bandit held her and moved forward. The leader focused intently, pointing his longsword at Lin Yan, while the other bandit kept watch over the crowd.
But who could have expected that as Lin and Shen passed each other, Shen Shaoguang stumbled and fell into Lin Yan's arms, sobbing and crying out, "Yan Lang—"
Lin Yan held her soft, fragrant form, but in his hand, he now clutched something—about two inches long, half an inch wide, thin and razor-sharp.
The hook-nosed bandit pointed his sword at Shen Shaoguang. "Move!"
Lin Yan glanced at him. Though the man was a desperado, he still flinched under Lin Yan's imposing aura and slightly withdrew his sword. Lin Yan said gently, "Go."
Shen Shaoguang nodded and walked toward Yu San.
Yu San quickly pulled her behind him, just as the bandit leader placed his sword against Lin Yan's neck.
Lin Yan acted as if the blade wasn't there and knelt down.
Seeing this, the bandit leader relaxed. For a warrior, a seated posture was the least threatening.
On the table were the paper and brush originally prepared for Shen Shaoguang to write a letter. Lin Yan picked them up and began writing.
In moments, he finished—just over a dozen characters. He lifted the corner of the paper and tilted his head to look at the bandit leader. "Take this, follow my attendant Liu Chang to the prison, and don’t say a word."
The bandit leader's face lit up with joy as he bent down to take the paper—but his smile froze as blood sprayed from his neck onto the table, the paper, and Lin Yan.
Shocked by the sudden turn, the hook-nosed bandit, who had been standing guard, raised his sword to stab Lin Yan. Lin Yan rolled aside, hurling the bloodied blade at the man while simultaneously drawing a dagger from his boot.
Two attendants had already rushed forward with their swords, joining the fight.
Yu San, A Yuan, and the others shielded Shen Shaoguang as they retreated outside.
Meanwhile, the coachman had returned with reinforcements from the residence. Earlier that day, there had been a grand banquet at the palace, after which Lin Yan had spent half the day working at the Jingzhao Office before heading back. Passing by Shen Ji, he noticed that despite the light rain, the shop was lit inside with its door closed—she was always complaining about the heat, so why wasn’t she taking the chance to cool off?
Troubled by the unresolved case of the Prophetic Utterances, Lin Yan felt uneasy and knocked on the door. When he heard her mention "praying to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl for blessings," he knew something was wrong—she had once joked about "beating the Cowherd until he cried for his mother," so why would she worship them now?
The night patrolmen from the ward also arrived. They had been less vigilant due to the rain, and now this had happened… Seeing the Jingzhao insignia, the patrolmen fell silent, unsure of what had transpired.
Lin Yan wiped the blood from his dagger with a handkerchief and stepped out from behind the curtain. His gaze first sought Shen Shaoguang, who was surrounded by Yu San and the others, before turning to give orders to his attendants. Some escorted the two captured bandits to the carriage, others carried away the bodies, while still others reprimanded and instructed the patrolmen.
Lin Yan walked over. The dim glow of the lantern under the eaves cast a faint light, but even so, her face looked pale, her hair disheveled, her shoulders frail, and her waist so slender it seemed as if it could be encircled with one hand. In the autumn night’s wind and rain, she looked utterly pitiful.
Lin Yan suppressed the urge to pull her into his arms. Someone usually so bright, even a little domineering, had suffered so much today because of him. If he had arrived even a moment later… He didn’t dare think about it."I..." Lin Yan could write eloquent policy essays and debate logically in court, but when it came to the young woman he loved, he found himself at a loss for words.
"Those thieves carried the scent of incense and burnt paper—perhaps from lingering in a temple earlier. Since they've been hiding these past days without changing clothes, the smell remains. There was also a hint of cured meats..." Shen Shaoguang said with a serious expression.
A good cook usually has a keen nose. Though Shen Shaoguang wouldn't call herself an exceptional cook, her sense of smell was sharp. However, the thieves' odors were too mixed—heavy sweat mingled with the dampness of rain... At first, she hadn't been able to distinguish them, only sensing something was off. It wasn't until she stood under the corridor, carefully recalling, that she identified these two most telling scents.
Lin Yan keenly caught the key point in her words. "Cured meats?" In this season between summer and autumn, ordinary households wouldn't store much cured meat unless...
Shen Shaoguang nodded. "Our shop has quite a bit." Of course, the thieves' hiding place could also have been the storerooms of some noble household that indulged in fine dining. She trusted Lord Lin would consider that possibility.
She continued with the next oddity: "One of the thieves wanted to order 'vinegar-braised eel.' It's a common dish in the northern capital's neighborhoods, not particularly famous, but locals often eat it in summer." This was according to Yuanjue's Classic of Noodles , which mentioned that northerners often poured vinegar-braised eel over cold wheat noodles.
"When I said I couldn't make it, the bearded leader seemed relieved."
...
Shen Shaoguang shared all the suspicious details she'd noticed about the thieves with Lin Yan.
Listening to her methodical account and gazing into her bright, starlit eyes, Lin Yan smiled. My A Qi... Even on a stormy autumn night like this, she shines as radiantly as spring scenery.
Lin Yan needed to interrogate the prisoners overnight. His attendants had already loaded the captives and corpses onto carts, ready to depart.
He cautioned Shen Shaoguang, "Be careful these next few days. I'll leave some guards with you."
Shen Shaoguang instinctively wanted to refuse.
Lin Yan said softly, "Listen to me."
She looked up, meeting his worried gaze, and finally nodded.
Glancing at Yu San and A Yuan nearby, Lin Yan turned back to her. "I'll take my leave now."
Shen Shaoguang stood quietly, watching him go. He was rather slender, the type one might describe as elegant as bamboo, yet perhaps because of his height and broad shoulders—or maybe due to his upright bearing—his long strides made it seem as though he could shoulder the weight of the night and the storm.
A sudden reluctance welled up in her, and she couldn't help mocking herself. No wonder the hero-saving-the-damsel trope is a classic. No wonder they say clichés win hearts... I really feel like throwing caution to the wind and pledging myself to him.
Author's Note:
Five minutes ago, Lin Yan: My A Qi is so small, helpless, and pitiful—I just want to hold her...
Five minutes later, Lin Yan: Oh, my A Qi is still as fierce as ever (slowly retracts hand).
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