Shen Shaoguang was true to her word. Taking advantage of the two-day break from business, she indeed visited the Slave Market. Among the many servants being traded, the place was crowded with people, but finding a suitable one wasn't so easy—someone tall and strong, with some martial skills, a reliable temperament, and a clean background...
After making the rounds, she only managed to purchase one named Zhang Duo.
Zhang Duo had also been trafficked from elsewhere by slave traders. In his twenties, though not "broad-shouldered and towering," he appeared quite robust, seemingly even taller than the already tall Lord Lin and Yu San. He claimed to have previously traveled with his master for trade, knew some martial arts, and was sold off when his master fell ill and passed away. The young heir was too young, so the mistress closed the business, sold off the extra servants, and returned to the countryside to live off their assets—answering questions briefly when asked, he was a man of few words. Unlike Yu San's tsundere demeanor, he seemed naturally taciturn.
Zhou Kui, the Lin family attendant accompanying Shen Shaoguang, tested him a couple of times before clasping his hands in salute to her. "Reporting to Young Lady, he's passable."
Those sent by Lin Yan to protect Shen Shaoguang were naturally his most capable men—aristocratic servants who accompanied the Deputy Chief of the Capital in his daily affairs. Their demeanor was naturally different. Seeing the young lady arrive with such attendants, the slave trader assumed she would never take a liking to the "merchandise" here. Who would have thought she'd actually make a purchase?
Zhou Kui didn't quite understand why the madam—no, the young lady—didn't just rely on their protection instead of buying more servants. Perhaps it was a maiden's modesty?
When would A Lang and the young lady marry? With her around, A Lang seemed especially amiable and easygoing... If the young lady took charge of household affairs, the food at home would surely improve...
Pei Fei had the same question. "Since you've set your mind on her, why not propose?"
Lin Yan pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Pei Fei seemed to realize something. "Don't tell me you proposed, and the young lady refused?" A gloating smile spread across his face.
Lin Yan shot him a glance.
Hahahaha... So even Lin Anran has his day of reckoning! Pei Fei no longer minded his earlier "showing off" at all.
As the Ghost Festival approached, the emperor left the capital to personally offer sacrifices at the late emperor's mausoleum. Neither Lin Yan nor Pei Fei accompanied him—Lin Yan held a critical position in the capital and couldn't leave, while Pei Fei's rank wasn't high enough to qualify for the entourage.
After seeing off the emperor, the officials dispersed. Pei Fei stuck with Lin Yan and asked if he would join him in offering sacrifices to Lord Cui at the City God Temple outside the city on the day of the festival.
Lin Yan replied, "I already have plans that day."
Pei Fei didn't catch on at first. "Then how about the 16th?"
"I'm on duty both the 14th and the 16th."
Pei Fei stared at him. So this year—
"I'll still go on the day of the festival itself."
Pei Fei suddenly recalled running into Shen Xiao Niangzi outside the city last year. "You're not planning to accompany—"
Lin Yan smiled faintly.
Seeing his expression, Pei Fei wrinkled his nose as if catching a whiff of something sickeningly sweet. Tsk! Tsk!
Now that he knew Lin Yan's proposal had been rejected, Pei Fei felt invigorated and was in the mood to offer advice again. "Not to criticize you, Anran, but who takes their fiancée to pay respects to their former father-in-law? Though Shen Xiao Niangzi seems broad-minded, you can't be this careless, especially—" Pei Fei raised an eyebrow meaningfully, "especially since she isn't even your fiancée yet."Lin Yan slightly furrowed his brow. "It's mainly because of the recent incident. I'm uneasy about her going out of the city alone." With the emperor leaving the capital, both the capital officials and the remaining Imperial Guards tightened security. Despite Lin Yan's careful arrangements, he could only spare this single day.
Pei Fei now thought there was a good reason why Young Lady Shen hadn't agreed to him—he clearly didn't understand women's thoughts at all...
Meanwhile, Lin Yan pondered whether he should explain matters concerning Lord Cui and Cui Ning to A Qi.
Shen's Shop had reopened with a fresh new look, boldly advertising discounted prices on a signboard at the entrance. Business seemed even livelier than before.
Last year, someone had seen the special sacrificial Honey Offerings and Flower Cakes from Shen's Shop at the Luminous Nunnery. This year, orders came in for them. Though the Honey Offering trade wasn't as booming as the Flower Cake business, it still earned Shen Shaoguang a tidy little sum.
With last year's experience, this year's Honey Offerings had improved in both form and flavor. Using milk, honey, eggs, and flour as the main ingredients, they were stuffed with fillings like red bean paste, sesame, jujube paste, or spiced salt, then steamed, fried, or baked into various shapes imprinted with auspicious patterns. Stacked layer upon layer, they made a grand and dignified display.
As the sweet aroma of the Honey Offerings wafted through the air, Shen Shaoguang mused that if spirits truly could enjoy these offerings, they'd probably be satisfied. After all, this was an era where even cherries were drizzled with sugarcane syrup, and mutton pastries were prized for their rich, juicy fillings.
Whether the spirits were satisfied or not, the customers certainly were. Some even planned to order a full set for their winter solstice and New Year sacrifices. "How impressive this looks!"
Yuanjue was also pleased. "Last year, when the leftover cakes were taken down, they toasted them on the stove. Jingqing thought they smelled delicious and brought me a Milk Honey Cake. I ate it with some light tea—it was especially good!"
Shen Shaoguang genuinely admired this elderly lady, who could savor both lavish banquets and humble street snacks, who had traveled far and wide yet remained steadfast in her simple ways. If not for her own worldly desires—always dreaming of buying property and becoming a landlady—she might have become the old lady's disciple. Spending her days discussing Zen and scriptures, brewing tea and baking cakes with her, then traveling in her later years...
Unaware that his beloved had even considered becoming a nun, Lin Yan was waiting at the tavern.
When Shen Shaoguang returned with A Yuan carrying trays and food boxes, she spotted Lord Lin sitting alone by the window.
"My lord, has your office work lightened today? You're here so early," Shen Shaoguang greeted him. Since the Prophetic Utterances case, Lord Lin had rarely visited in the afternoons. Then with the recent incident, it felt like ages since she'd last seen him leisurely sipping wine by the paper window. Had the emperor's departure left the capital officials slacking off? Unlikely—as the capital administrator, he should be busier than ever.
Lin Yan smiled faintly. "It's manageable."
Shen Shaoguang nodded. If he said so, then it must be. "Are you hungry now, my lord? Would you like a proper meal or some light snacks?"
Noting her polite tone, Lin Yan pressed his lips together. "A Qi, I have something to tell you."
The other day when he'd called her "A Qi," the shocking words that followed had made her overlook the intimate address. But now, it seemed this had become his habit—whenever no outsiders were around, he'd call her "A Qi."
In her previous life's open-minded era, being called "A Qi" wouldn't have fazed her—heck, even terms like "honey" wouldn't raise eyebrows (maybe he just liked online shopping lingo?). But here, him using her personal name like this felt far too familiar.Shen Shaoguang had a feeling that Lord Lin seemed to regard his "marriage proposal" as a past perfect tense—as if having proposed once meant it was already accomplished. This domineering CEO vibe of his...
Sitting across from him, Shen Shaoguang picked up Ming Nu, who had been curled at her feet, and stroked the cat while listening to him speak.
"On the Zhongyuan Festival, will you be going outside the city for ancestral rites? Shall we go together?"
Shen Shaoguang frowned slightly, recalling her encounter with Pei Fei last year. Had Lord Lin been there too? She smiled and said, "I did run into Young Master Pei last year. Will he be joining us this time? It would be nice to have company."
Lin Yan took a sip of his Fruit Drink and replied, "He has other matters to attend to. He'll go another day."
Shen Shaoguang nodded. After brief consideration, she agreed to Lin Yan's suggestion. She naturally understood the implication behind his invitation, but given their current relationship and the somewhat unstable times, it would be overly pretentious to insist on traveling separately when they lived in the same neighborhood, only to coincidentally meet at the destination. Going together was fine.
Seeing her agreement, Lin Yan smiled, the corners of his eyes curving into a pleasing shape.
At this moment, Shen Shaoguang thought his smile didn't resemble the fresh green of spring mountains, but rather the sky after autumn rain—just cleared, a blue that didn't dazzle, with warm yet gentle sunlight and a light, pleasant breeze... Seeing such a smile, she felt her earlier agreement had been well worth it.
"There's one more thing—" Lin Yan hesitated slightly. When it came to Cui Ning's matter, he found it unexpectedly difficult to broach the subject with her.
"When I go outside the city, it's to pay respects to Lord Cui, who was like a mentor to me."
Shen Shaoguang understood—that would be Minister Cui. Thinking of Minister Cui naturally brought to mind the Cui family's young lady. So, was Lord Lin...?
"I was once betrothed to Lord Cui's beloved daughter," Lin Yan pursed his lips, "but in truth—I was closer to Lord Cui and the Cui family's young master."
Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow.
"A Qi, you are the only woman I have ever loved with all my heart." Lin Yan said softly, with utmost solemnity.
Shen Shaoguang's hand paused mid-stroke, and Ming Nu in her arms, displeased, gave her a light swat with its paw.
Author's Note: ① The old Beijing-style way of eating pastries that Mr. Tang Lusun mentioned—toasted thoroughly on a stove and sandwiched with Baoding-style smoked chicken intestines—is more satisfying than any light porridge or side dishes on a winter night.
OpenNovel