Yummy Yummy Yummy

The new tavern had just opened, so Shen Shaoguang spent most of her time in the Qinren Ward. "The young mistress just left," "The young mistress should be back soon," "The young mistress is staying in Qinren Ward today..." Recently, every time Lin Yan visited the tavern, the round-faced steward of Shen Ji would say such things.

Lin Yan felt disheartened. Looking at the steward, he wondered if A Qi had a particular fondness for round faces—all her servants seemed to have plump, rounded features, while she herself was anything but round.

As he rode toward Qinren Ward with Pei Fei, Lin Yan was still pondering this. He had been busy lately—had she grown even thinner? Unexpectedly, when he turned his head, a massive Chrysanthemum Fish caught his eye, along with those dignified four large characters.

Even without looking at the sign, he knew it was Shen Ji. Seeing those words, Lin Yan pursed his lips, feeling as though a privilege he hadn’t yet enjoyed had been taken by someone else. A Qi hadn’t even...

Pei Fei chimed in beside him, "An Ran, you should smile more. Your young mistress is so playful and mischievous, yet you go around with a stern face, more solemn than the Han script carved on the walls. How is that fitting?"

Lin Yan glanced at him but still entered Shen Ji in Qinren Ward with a faint smile.

Shen Shaoguang was behind the counter discussing matters with the steward, Xu Kai. Though Xu Kai was shrewd and had been trained at the old shop for some time, this was his first time managing a tavern, so there were still many areas needing improvement.

As they spoke, the door curtain rustled. Shen Shaoguang looked up: "Young Master Lin, Young Master Pei—"

She hadn’t expected them to visit so soon to show their support. It was almost the Hour of the Goat—had they come straight from court? They must have already eaten Corridor Food... unless they had saved their appetites specifically to dine here.

Mentally weighing the possibilities, she teased lightly, "Young Masters, truly, 'the world is small, and we meet again.'"

Pei Fei burst into laughter, and even Lin Yan's eyes crinkled with amusement.

Being so familiar with them, Shen Shaoguang handed them the menu and introduced the "Today's Special." "We have Roasted Pheasant today. A hunter delivered it this morning—already marinated in oil, plump and tender. Roasted until slightly charred and sprinkled with cumin powder, it pairs perfectly with wine."

"We also have fresh perch. Though not the Songjiang Four-Gilled Perch, it’s still very rich. Would you like it braised or sliced into Fish Sashimi? Today’s perch is quite large, so steaming isn’t ideal, though that would’ve been excellent too."

Pei Fei, ever the freeloader, left the choice to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan thought of the "feast for the eyes" outside but simply said, "Whatever the young mistress recommends will do."

Shen Shaoguang nodded. "Then let’s prepare the Fish Sashimi. It best preserves the freshness. You must also try the Gold Paste we made recently."

She also recommended stir-fried chrysanthemum greens, Honey-Glazed Lamb Chops, eel with chestnuts, shrimp tofu, and a winter mushroom and spinach soup.

Hearing about the spinach soup, Pei Fei grinned. "That soup is excellent."

Shen Shaoguang didn’t understand—why was he so delighted over a simple spinach soup?

Just then, Princess Fuhui entered and caught sight of Pei Fei’s beaming face. Hmph...

Shen Shaoguang turned and hurried to greet her.

The princess was a long-time resident of Qinren Ward, and many in the ward recognized her. Upon her arrival, the diners—including Lin Yan and Pei Fei—rose to pay their respects. The princess waved them off and took a seat at the dining table positioned above Lin and Pei’s—since the high tables were all occupied, they were still using the smaller ones.Princess Fuhui arrived, and the other diners, not daring to share the space with her, quickly dispersed. Shen Shaoguang instructed the manager Xu Kai to offer discounts, and some were even given free meals—Shen Shaoguang thought with a pang of regret, hoping the noble guests would make up for the loss.

Shen Shaoguang presented the menu and asked what Her Highness would like to order.

"Just the one on the wall by the entrance," Princess Fuhui glanced at her and smiled. "As for the rest, you may choose as you please, young lady."

Shen Shaoguang acknowledged and was about to withdraw when Princess Fuhui suddenly asked, "Have I met you somewhere before, young lady?"

"I used to run a tavern in Chongxian Lane. Your Highness once came to dine on Hot Pot and graciously bestowed upon me a bracelet."

Princess Fuhui studied Shen Shaoguang again. "Ah, now I remember..."

Seeing no further instructions, Shen Shaoguang went to the kitchen to arrange the dishes.

With only three guests to serve, it didn’t take long before Shen Shaoguang and the waiters brought out the dishes one by one.

Looking at the Chrysanthemum Fish before her, Princess Fuhui took a bite and exclaimed, "Excellent!"

Shen Shaoguang smiled politely. Of course it was excellent—two extra spoonfuls of sugar had been added to suit Her Highness’s taste.

Princess Fuhui glanced at Pei Fei, then back at Shen Shaoguang. "Both times, the food has been so perfectly suited to my palate. Do we share similar tastes, young lady?"

Lin Yan frowned and was about to speak when Shen Shaoguang solemnly replied, "Forgive my boldness, Your Highness, but I must confess our tastes likely differ greatly. Your Highness, born into nobility, favors dishes that are vibrant in color and sweet in flavor. I, having lived in the countryside, prefer simpler, lighter fare."

She pointed to the Fish Sashimi being served by the waiter. "It may look plain, but it’s full of flavor. Mixed with Gold Paste and green mustard, it’s spicy with a hint of sourness—truly robust!"

Princess Fuhui stared at Shen Shaoguang, who maintained her polite smile.

"Lighter fare..." Princess Fuhui seemed to realize something as she glanced at Lin Yan. Though the princess was known for her eccentricity, she wouldn’t normally behave this way toward a high-ranking official in crimson robes—but then again, he was Pei Fei’s friend.

Lin Yan pressed his lips together, while Pei Fei also looked awkward. Both he and An Ran had just been compared to dishes by these two young women...

After a moment, Princess Fuhui arched her delicate brows and asked with a smile, "Truly robust?"

Shen Shaoguang swallowed. "A bit nose-tingling! If Your Highness prefers sweet flavors, you might find it hard to enjoy."

Princess Fuhui burst into laughter. Comparing the two differently prepared fish dishes, she finally said, "It seems our tastes truly differ."

Shen Shaoguang nodded in agreement. Yes, indeed—thankfully, their tastes were different.

Princess Fuhui continued eating her Chrysanthemum Fish with great relish, also sampling candied yam, Honey-Glazed Lamb Chops, Drunken Goose Webs, and finishing with a small bowl of Osmanthus Sweet Fermented Rice Balls.

"If one gets hungry at night, a bowl of this would suffice," Princess Fuhui remarked approvingly as she set down her bowl. "But why not use fresh osmanthus flowers?"

Shen Shaoguang explained, "Fresh osmanthus is hard to preserve, so it’s rarely sold in the market."

Princess Fuhui waved a hand. "I’ll give you some then. The osmanthus trees in my garden are just sitting there idly anyway."

Shen Shaoguang quickly expressed her gratitude and boldly added, "Since we’ll be using Your Highness’s osmanthus, may we also ask for a name?"

Princess Fuhui thought for a moment. "Let’s call it 'Red Cloud Osmanthus Sweet Rice Ball.'"

"In that case—our establishment also offers Osmanthus Porridge, Osmanthus Sugar Cake, Osmanthus Sticky Rice Lotus Root, Osmanthus Duck..." Shen Shaoguang couldn’t help but chuckle at her own words.Princess Fuhui had never seen someone who could climb up a pole so effortlessly. She couldn't help but feel resentful. "If I had been as bold as you back then, apart from Chixia Garden, I could have gotten my hands on the Tung Garden at Zhongnan Mountain and the Bitan Villa by the Wei River. They wouldn't have ended up with Jiu Niang and Shiyi Niang."

Shen Shaoguang also felt a pang of sympathy for her. A villa in Zhongnan Mountain, a holiday home by the Wei River... So even a princess had unfulfilled real estate dreams!

With boundless longing, Shen Shaoguang said, "This is the season when wild game is at its fattest. Taking a hunting party to Zhongnan Mountain to bag some rabbits, roe deer, deer, or pheasants, then skewering them on barbecue sticks—if you prefer sweet flavors, brush them with honey glaze layer by layer while roasting. For savory tastes, dip them in spiced salt. And for those who like it spicy, sprinkle with Zanthoxylum piperitum and cumin pepper..."

"One year, Ba Lang caught a strange-looking creature—a brown body with a black-and-white head, neither quite cat nor raccoon-dog. We roasted it right there in the mountains, and it was incredibly tender and fragrant. Later, Song Fu heard about it and asked if the beast had 'a white tail with a mane.' He said it might have been a 'Fei Fei,' and keeping one could dispel sorrow." Princess Fuhui was recounting an incident from over a decade ago. "Ba Lang" referred to the Prince of Heyang, known for his beautiful male concubine.

Shen Shaoguang pondered for a moment before offering professional advice: "If you ever hunt another one, Your Highness might try curing it, steaming it with honey fermented wine, and slicing it thinly with a sharp knife to eat."

Princess Fuhui nodded. "Cured and dried, it probably wouldn't be too greasy."

Listening to the two of them casually discussing how to cook a mythical beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas , Lin Yan had a sinking feeling. With the princess's residence so close by, and A Qi frequently interacting with this unconventional princess, he worried she might be led astray...

"Spring is better spent by the Wei River, fishing during the Peach Blossom Flood—you might even hook a big one." Their conversation had now shifted to the Wei River.

Shen Shaoguang thought the princess was so poetic, so adept at enjoying life. "Peach blossoms flow, mandarin fish grow plump"—this was when mandarin fish were at their most tender. Even a simple salted fish soup would be exquisitely fresh.

She then suggested to Princess Fuhui, "Soft-shelled turtles are also delicious in spring. That's why the southerners say, 'When rapeseed flowers turn yellow, soft-shelled turtles grow fat.' They're cunning creatures, but with chicken liver or mutton as bait, they’re easy to catch. In spring, soft-shelled turtles can be braised, steamed, made into soup, or stewed with chicken or venison—all incredibly tasty."

Leaving Lin and Pei on the sidelines, Princess Fuhui and Shen Shaoguang chatted about food and drink, then real estate, then circled back to food and drink, eventually moving on to fashion trends.

Only when they grew tired did Princess Fuhui finally laugh and say, "At last, someone I can talk to! I’ll visit you again another day."

Shen Shaoguang smiled. "I’d be delighted."

Lin Yan wore a stern expression, while Pei Fei remained unfazed.

When leaving, the princess didn’t leave any money—a sign that she didn’t see Shen Shaoguang as an ordinary merchant. Shen Shaoguang appreciated the respect but thought that if the princess had gifted her another pair of jeweled armlets, it wouldn’t have been disrespectful either.

Unexpectedly, the very next day, the princess sent a large crate of fresh osmanthus flowers—even bigger than the crate of roses Lord Lin had once delivered. The key difference? This wasn’t a request for processing; it was a gift. Long live the princess! Shen Shaoguang instantly became her biggest fan. With so much fresh osmanthus, imagine all the delicious treats she could make!Two days later, while Shen Shaoguang was still busy experimenting with those fresh osmanthus flowers, Princess Fuhui sent over another gift—a palm-sized silver plaque about half an inch thick, inlaid with golden cloud patterns along the edges. It was roughly the same size as the Today's Special menu board hanging behind the counter. The plaque bore the inscription "Crimson Sunset Osmanthus Fragrance," and most delightfully, it had several small rings at the bottom for hanging items.

Shen Shaoguang was utterly touched—the princess was simply adorable. She immediately hung this exquisite gold-inlaid silver plaque on the hook for the specials menu, suspending small tags below it: "Osmanthus Sugar Cake," "Osmanthus Fragrance Duck," and "Osmanthus Chestnut Soup."

Manager Xu Kai had been living in something of a surreal dream lately. Back when he served as steward for a county captain's household, meeting a county magistrate was the height of his experience. After being sold to this capital tavern, on his very first day he encountered the Deputy Governor of the Capital in plain clothes. Then assigned to this branch location—which he'd heard shared the same neighborhood as Princess Fuhui—he'd even wondered if he might someday catch sight of the noble lady during her outings. Who could have imagined the princess would personally visit the tavern to dine, then send osmanthus flowers and even a menu plaque!

Xu Kai felt this was something he could boast about for the rest of his life.