Yummy Yummy Yummy

The next day, the skies finally cleared.

After breakfast, the four from Shen Ji Tavern busied themselves cleaning up the bloodstains and broken items in the shop, assisted by the attendants Lord Lin had left behind—all of whom seemed eager to follow the young lady's every command. In the afternoon, Shen Shaoguang took some people to the West Market to buy supplies and arranged for workers to repaint the walls the following day. She figured they might as well give the shop a complete makeover—after all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and sometimes destruction leads to greater prosperity.

While taking out the trash, she ran into neighbors and regular customers. Some had heard the commotion the night before and peeked out, only to retreat at the sight of armed men.

Shen Shaoguang smiled and explained, "A fugitive happened to be dining in our tavern when officers from the capital came to arrest him. It scared us half to death..." Every word was true, though she omitted some "less important" details.

The neighbors clicked their tongues sympathetically at the damage. "Your shop took quite a beating..."

Shen Shaoguang winced. "Indeed!"

"Just bad luck, I suppose..."

She nodded. "Absolutely, absolutely."

Lin Yan didn’t finish work until evening. Since he hadn’t returned home the previous night, he freshened up and changed clothes before paying his respects to his grandmother. After sharing a light meal with her, he headed straight for Shen Ji Tavern.

The front door was locked, with a sign announcing, "Owner's business—closed for five days." Lin Yan circled to the back alley, where the aroma of roasted lamb seasoned with cumin wafted from afar. At the gate, he heard laughter inside—including that of his own attendants.

Lin Yan smiled. A Qi...

He knocked, and A Chang opened the door. "Lord Lin—" He quickly ushered him in.

A mat and felt cushions covered the brick floor, with a grill at the center skewering large chunks of lamb, chicken, vegetables, and tofu. Yu San, wearing an apron and a crooked gauze cap, was busy roasting, assisted by Zhou Kui. The others sat scattered around, enjoying the feast, while the young lady presided from the main seat—watching everyone eat with a pleased smile.

When Lin Yan entered, his attendants immediately stood and saluted, their expressions turning solemn.

Shen Shaoguang sighed inwardly. Was Lord Lin here to ruin the party? Just when everyone was having a good time...

"Have you eaten dinner yet, Lord Lin? Would you care to join us?" Despite her thoughts, she still extended the courtesy.

Reading her expression, Lin Yan cleared his throat and smiled at the group. "I’ve already eaten. Please, carry on." After a pause, he added, "The roasted lamb with pepper and cumin smells incredible—the whole alley is filled with the aroma."

The attendants exchanged subtle glances. Their master was unusually amiable... and talkative today!

Shen Shaoguang knew his presence would dampen the mood. Since she wasn’t eating the roast anyway, she picked up some fruit drinks. "In that case, it’s smoky out here. Why don’t you come inside, my lord?"

Lin Yan’s lips curled. "Very well."

This was Lin Yan’s first time entering Shen Shaoguang’s home—albeit just the main hall.

The room was modest, with a plain foreign rug covering the floor. Simple elmwood tables and stools were scattered casually atop it. On the central long table lay half a sheet of cut jade-beam rouge paper, two pairs of scissors, and a small pile of floral stickers shaped like birds, fish, and insects. Nearby were an overturned book, a teapot and cups, a lotus-leaf-shaped fruit plate piled with fresh water chestnuts, and some leftover peels.Lin Yan lowered his head with a faint smile—so A Qi was this untidy.

Shen Shaoguang set down the fruit drink and adjusted the lamp to brighten the room. Seeing the mess on the table, she felt a little embarrassed. In the afternoon, she had gone to the West Market to buy supplies for the shop and stopped by a stationery store to purchase a new inkstone—the old one had been smashed. Unexpectedly, she came across some exquisitely beautiful gold-flecked Yuliang rouge paper and bought a few sheets. In the evening, she had taught A Yuan how to cut floral stickers, and they hadn’t cleaned up yet...

Just as Shen Shaoguang was about to tidy up, Lin Yan motioned for her to sit. "Don’t bother."

Oh well, this was just how she was. Shen Shaoguang pushed the clutter aside, took a cup, and poured Lin Yan some sour plum drink.

"Why didn’t you eat dinner tonight?" Lin Yan had noticed earlier that her table only had some pastries, peaches, and grapes—no meat like others would have.

Shen Shaoguang smiled. "It’s nothing. My throat’s a bit sore." Last night, the intruder had choked her and pressed a sword against her neck, leaving bruises and a red mark. Though it was just an external injury, by morning her throat felt like it was on fire, and her tonsils seemed swollen—could an external injury affect her internally? In this state, Shen Shaoguang absolutely dared not eat roasted lamb.

Lin Yan’s gaze fell on her neck. The bruises had a purplish tint, and the red mark stood out starkly against her fair skin.

"Does it still hurt?" Lin Yan asked softly.

His tone made Shen Shaoguang’s mind wander to an unspeakable scenario. She quickly stopped herself and forced a dry laugh. "It doesn’t hurt. I’ll just take some Sanhuang Shangqing pills."

Lin Yan nodded, and silence fell between them.

To cover up her own improper thoughts, Shen Shaoguang urged Lin Yan to try the fruit. "These grapes are newly picked from our courtyard—very sweet! The water chestnuts are tender too."

"Mmm," Lin Yan responded.

Beside the plate of water chestnuts in front of him lay the overturned Autumn Frontier Collection . Lin Yan picked up a feather-patterned floral sticker and used it as a bookmark on the open page. "Facing gleaming blades amid bloodshed, who seeks glory when death is near...?" He closed the book quietly, set it aside, then picked up the nutcracker to crack open a water chestnut. After opening it, he handed it to Shen Shaoguang, who sat across from him.

Shen Shaoguang froze for a moment before accepting it. She peeled off the skin and took a bite—the flesh was crisp and tender.

"A Qi, let me send someone to propose marriage."

Shen Shaoguang nearly choked on the water chestnut.

Lin Yan frowned slightly and pushed the drink she had poured for him earlier toward her.

Shen Shaoguang waved her hand—no, Lord Lin, how could you drop such a thing without any warning?

"I’m truly uneasy with you living outside like this."

Shen Shaoguang nodded in understanding and smiled. "That’s no problem. I’ll just buy a couple more male servants—big, burly ones, towering like giants."

Lin Yan: "..."

Shen Shaoguang added, "I heard the Guan family’s weapon shop in the West Market sells sharp swords and long blades. They can even craft mechanical devices. I wonder if they could make a hidden weapon for the forearm—press a button, and poisoned needles shoot out..." She was clearly thinking of the "Storm Pear Blossom Needles" from later legends.

Lin Yan pursed his lips helplessly. "You know very well that’s not what I meant."

This time, it was Shen Shaoguang’s turn to fall silent.

"A Qi, do you really feel nothing for me?" Lin Yan lifted his eyes to meet hers.

Shen Shaoguang met his gaze and unexpectedly detected a hint of sorrow and grievance. The insincere "no" stuck in her throat. She let out an awkward laugh and scratched her ear."Or are you concerned about something?"

"You probably don't know about my family circumstances. My grandmother is advanced in years and wishes most for me to marry soon. Having experienced the vicissitudes of life, she is open-minded about many things and not the stubborn type. Moreover—" Lin Yan paused briefly, "my late parents' unhappy marriage led to much misfortune. My grandmother only hopes I won't repeat their mistakes and would never be picky about a bride. Back in our hometown in Hedong, we have two close clans—neither given to vanity nor fond of stirring trouble. So you needn't worry about my family."

"As for outsiders, there's even less need for concern. My bride is my bride." The final statement was delivered with calm composure.

Hah, who would have thought the usually solemn and dignified Lord Lin had a touch of that "phoenix-song mocking Kong Qiu" rebellious spirit.

Shen Shaoguang was his opposite—outwardly unconventional but inwardly cautious and rational like a modern person, even somewhat detached.

The hope of a declining aristocratic family, a scholar who passed the imperial examinations young, a high-ranking official in scarlet robes at just over twenty—what expectations did his family, relatives, teachers, friends, and even he himself have for his future? How far would his political career go? While not necessarily seeking advantage through marriage, at the very least, it shouldn't become a liability.

Marrying the descendant of a disgraced official, facing an emperor who treated suspicion as occupational hazard, dealing with colleagues' probing and potential exclusion... Shen Shaoguang didn't doubt his sincerity at this moment, nor did she question that with his temperament and her ability to manage life, they could enjoy marital harmony and grow old together. But she didn't want to be the cause of unnecessary obstacles in his career.

He might become a renowned statesman remembered through history, like Yao Chong and Song Jing, or Wu Yuanheng and Lu Yunming.

As for a wife—how many accomplished young ladies were there in the two capitals? Lively ones, dignified ones, those with charm and wit—surely one would suit him? And those young ladies would probably be quite satisfied with Lord Lin's appearance and temperament, wouldn't they?

The thought made Shen Shaoguang jealous. Damn it! My lottery ticket worth five million—no, a hundred million—just got shredded in the washing machine! This hurts right down to my liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys!

With her internal organs metaphorically aching, Shen Shaoguang nonchalantly picked up a peach: "This peach is quite good too, somewhat like the honey peaches from Guanzhong. Would you like to try one, my lord? Any later and peach season will be over."

Lin Yan watched as Shen Shaoguang calmly peeled the peach.

She peeled halfway before bringing it to her mouth with slender fingers. Her cheeks puffed as she chewed, juice staining her lips, completely absorbed in eating as if it were the most delicious peach in the world.

After finishing, she wiped her mouth and hands with a handkerchief, looked up, curved her eyes, and smiled.

Seeing that smile, Lin Yan's heart ached with sorrow. After a moment, his expression finally softened as he served her some water chestnuts. "There's no need for you to buy some hulking, towering male servant. I'll give you two of mine."

"It's not that I'm being polite," Shen Shaoguang quickly waved her hands, "it's genuinely inappropriate. 'A servant at the prime minister's gate holds seventh-rank status'—having the hereditary servants of the Lord of the Capital's office carrying tables and serving plates in my little tavern..." Shen Shaoguang knew that to these Tang Dynasty nobles, "servants are lowly, legally equivalent to livestock," but surely Lord Lin, with his emotional intelligence, could understand the psychological adjustment required for his servants?Besides, I have money! What kind of bodyguard couldn’t I afford? Shen Shaoguang felt her nouveau riche extravagance soaring to the heavens.

Lin Yan pressed his lips together. While it was good that the young lady had her own ideas, being too headstrong… Lin Yan found her more troublesome than the criminals in his prison.

To reassure him, Shen Shaoguang analyzed further, “After this incident, the capital’s prison will surely be more secure. Kidnapping relatives or friends of capital officials won’t be of any use anymore.”

“As for revenge… those bandits had their own objectives. To them, I was merely a tool. Why would they waste manpower and effort to seek revenge on a mere tool?”

Revenge, in itself, was particularly uneconomical in terms of criminal logic. For a group with clear political motives, seeking revenge on a random NPC—one who was undoubtedly already prepared—would entail high costs with no benefits… The likelihood was too slim.

Had those individuals been sociopathic maniacs beyond reason, Shen Shaoguang would have sought police protection without hesitation.

Lin Yan studied her for a long moment before finally letting out a helpless chuckle.

He stood and walked to a painting hanging on the side wall. Delicate ink strokes outlined a whitewashed wall and a black gate, with a branch of rouge-hued crabapple blossoms peeking over the wall, scattering petals below. In the corner was a small vermilion seal in ancient script reading “Retaining Spring’s Stay.” The characters were elegant yet carried a sturdy grace—she had carved it herself.

The crabapple tree in the backyard… Lin Yan’s heart ached again. The pavilions and flowers of the past remained, but the people were long gone.

Not wishing to stir her melancholy, Lin Yan studied the inscription, considered her childhood name, and pondered the style of her father’s poetry and prose before asking with a smile, “This seal is quite unique… ‘Spring’s Radiance’… ‘Splendid Years’?”

Shen Shaoguang’s eyes widened. He could even guess that?!

She shook her head, smiling. “Wrong.”

Seeing her slightly surprised expression, Lin Yan knew that even if he hadn’t hit the mark, he was close. “‘Fragrant Blossoms’? ‘Morning Light’?”

In the end, Shen Shaoguang couldn’t help herself and gave a playful smirk. “Guess?”

Author’s Note:

① From Gao Shi’s "Song of the Northern Frontier."

————

The name-guessing segment is purely for fun—don’t take it too seriously.

————

Lin Yan: Achievement unlocked—calling wife by her childhood name.

Achievement progress for guessing wife’s full name: 50%.