Shen Shaoguang gestured for Liu Feng to take a seat at one of the small dining tables, settling across from him as A-Yuan brought over cups of warm milk.
Liu Feng's gaze flickered toward Shen Shaoguang before dropping to study the wooden grain beneath his hands, a faint flush coloring his cheeks. "What did Young Lady wish to speak with me about?"
"Does Master Liu know of my background?" Shen Shaoguang asked, her voice gentle.
"Master Jingqing at Guangming Temple mentioned it."
Shen Shaoguang nodded, easily imagining Jingqing's words: "A refined daughter of the Shen family from Luoyang," "Though circumstances have reduced her to managing a small business, she's well-versed in poetry and literature, with considerable learning," perhaps even adding freely, "virtuous and dutiful," "gentle and modest." Jingqing was kindhearted and must have thought securing a husband like Liu Feng would spare her from laboring on the streets, so naturally he'd spoken favorably.
"I stay at Guangming Temple, but there are things Master Jingqing doesn't know," Shen Shaoguang explained with a soft smile.
"I am indeed from the Shen family of Luoyang—but I was released as a palace maid this spring."
Liu Feng's head snapped up. Daughters of noble families who entered the palace typically became consorts, rarely serving as maids—unless their families were convicted of crimes and they were conscripted into service. Since Young Lady Shen had been released rather than elevated, she wasn't a consort, which could only mean one thing...
Seeing he grasped her meaning, and knowing he'd shown her respect, she couldn't allow him to think she was "abandoning the poor for the wealthy" or "breaking her word." She'd prepared an explanation for why the marriage couldn't proceed: "I have no interest in marriage at present. I only wish to establish myself, earn money, support my family, purchase property, raise chickens and ducks..." By the end, her words had taken on a somewhat playful tone, and Shen Shaoguang laughed first.
Liu Feng's lips curved slightly in response.
"I was presumptuous," he said after a moment's silence, rising to offer Shen Shaoguang a formal cupped-hand salute.
Shen Shaoguang stood as well, returning his gesture with a proper woman's bow and a smile. "The honor was mine."
Liu Feng moistened his lips, seeming to want to say more, but in the end simply lowered his head and departed.
To his surprise, he encountered his superior, Assistant Magistrate Lin, at the entrance—was he here to dine?
Liu Feng bowed respectfully to Lin Yan.
Lin Yan acknowledged him with a nod and entered the shop.
"What would the gentleman care for this evening? Perhaps chicken soup noodles? With cold cucumber salad and shrimp paste fried eggs?"
"That will do."
Hearing Young Lady Shen listing dishes in the distance and his superior's characteristically brief "That will do," Liu Feng realized he was reading too much into things. Young Lady Shen and Assistant Magistrate Lin... impossible.
Liu Feng surmised that Assistant Magistrate Lin had likely been detained by Minister Zhang of the Court of State Ceremonial until evening, breaking curfew on his return journey, and probably hadn't eaten properly. Hence the late visit for a meal.
Recently, foreign diplomatic missions had been arriving in waves. While the Court of State Ceremonial bore primary responsibility for reception, many matters required coordination with the Capital Prefecture, with Assistant Magistrate Lin overseeing them.
The two offices interacted frequently, and Liu Feng had developed some understanding of the Minister of State Ceremonial. This Minister Zhang was exceptionally detail-oriented—even regarding a matter of two carriages, he would insist, "Let's discuss this more thoroughly," then launch into "The Book of Rites states... during the Han Dynasty... during Emperor Taizong's reign... during Emperor Gaozong's reign... during Emperor Xuanzong's reign..." It was truly exhausting.
Earlier that day at noon, when he'd gone to have Assistant Magistrate Lin sign documents, he'd been absent, having departed for the Court of State Ceremonial... Liu Feng felt genuine sympathy for his young superior—high rank and position came with their own burdens.
Shen Shaoguang felt somewhat helpless—why did he always arrive at this hour? Everything was sold out!
She could only work with what remained. The preserved chicken was gone, but chicken broth remained—she could prepare noodles with it, adding vegetables for a bowl of chicken soup noodles. She peeled a cucumber, crushed it with her knife, and dressed it with minced garlic, light soy sauce, and sesame oil. Then she quickly stir-fried two eggs with chives and a spoonful of shrimp paste. All simple dishes, ready in moments.
The rhythmic thud of the chopping board, the sizzle of the wok—though the shop's layout concealed the kitchen from view, these sounds alone carried the full richness of daily life.
Lin Yan turned his gaze to a wall painting: distant misty mountains, a winding stream, a small thatched cottage, a wine banner beside its door, and beneath it a boy peeling lotus pods. Rendered only in ink with no color, just outlines and shading. Though not particularly masterful, it possessed a certain vitality and tranquility. Though it bore no title, inscription, or seal, Lin Yan knew it was painted by the shop's owner.
Lin Yan found himself recalling the incident at the palace gate.
That day in court they'd discussed drought relief measures. Afterward, he'd gone to inspect Anfu Gate—though releasing palace maids was a minor matter, it was part of the drought relief policy, and no mistakes could be tolerated.
From a distance, he'd noticed a smiling young woman among a group of weeping elderly palace servants.
The current emperor wasn't yet thirty and had no empress, with few high-ranking consorts, so palace maids should have been...
Yet she'd worn the vibrant expression of a bird freed from its cage. What had she claimed? "Ill health"... Clearly she hadn't been expelled but had sought to leave of her own accord, probably employing various means and resources. At the time, infected by her vitality, he'd softened and allowed her passage.
Since departing, she'd remained vibrant, carrying a "wildness" rarely found among noble children, like spring grass—one couldn't help wondering how far she might spread.
Emerging from the palace, she'd headed straight for this small establishment of simple fare—what made it interesting? Lin Yan's gaze swept the modest shop front, settling again on that painting, finding genuine interest in it.
Perhaps everyone in high office harbored dreams of being a recluse, just as everyone outside the court dreamed of power. Lin Yan was genuinely moved by the painting's evocation of withdrawal from the world. But for a young lady of the Shen family... Thinking of Clerk Liu's dejected appearance moments ago, and how he'd previously rather go hungry than forgo purchasing Shen's pancakes, could it be...
Lin Yan's brow furrowed suddenly—why dwell on such irrelevant matters? As a child, he could spin elaborate tales from observing a moth. Had that habit still not been broken? He redirected his thoughts toward the matter of the diplomatic missions.
Shen Shaoguang brought the dishes and noodles on a tray, arranging them on the small table. She'd noticed that Assistant Magistrate Lin never sat at the long communal tables—he probably disliked facing walls...
"Please enjoy your meal, sir."
Lin Yan nodded his thanks.
A-Yuan emerged from the back carrying clean cups, plates, bowls, and chopsticks. Shen Shaoguang had nearly finished tidying the kitchen and told her to take some hot water back to the temple first to wash up, saying she would lock up later.
"I'll wait for Young Lady."
Shen Shaoguang said softly, "You go ahead. There are still plenty of people on the street—I'll be fine." The child had worked hard all day and never seemed to get adequate sleep. Better to let her return early to wash and rest.
A-Yuan shook her head and, seeing no remaining tasks, went to sit on the steps outside, waiting for Shen Shaoguang.
Shen Shaoguang smiled helplessly.
Standing behind the counter with her chin resting in her hand, Shen Shaoguang reflected on Liu Feng's visit.
How many cases of genuine love at first sight, of "none but you," truly existed? This was simply normal people doing normal things. Still, having never had a boyfriend or married before transmigrating, it seemed she was destined for solitude in this life as well—no wonder she lived in a Buddhist nunnery. When she grew old and lonely in the future—Shen Shaoguang imagined herself residing in a spacious mansion, surrounded by servants, watching snow in winter, eating melons in summer, specifically employing someone literate to read stories aloud to her... that wouldn't be unpleasant at all!
So—time to focus on earning money first!
When Lin Yan finished his meal, he turned to find Shen Shaoguang wearing a peaceful expression. "Shop owner—"
"Coming! Has the gentleman finished?" Shen Shaoguang instantly shifted to a polite and attentive smile.
Lin Yan nodded.
"One hundred cash, sir." Of that, twenty covered costs, the remainder was for labor and the late hour. This man always arrived at this time and ordered specially prepared stir-fries—charging somewhat more seemed perfectly reasonable.
Lin Yan withdrew a small piece of silver from his purse, placed it on the counter, and departed.
Another two taels or so—Shen Shaoguang felt one step closer to living like a prosperous landlady, her mood considerably brightened!
After washing the bowls and chopsticks, extinguishing the lights, and securing the doors, Shen Shaoguang gently shook A-Yuan, who'd dozed off on the steps. "Come on, time for bed!"
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