Chapter 81.1 Current Contentment
When the Princess Imperial mentioned her intention to visit, she followed through periodically. Similar to Deputy Magistrate Lin, her visits often occurred in the afternoon or post-dinner. Prior to arriving, she would dispatch her attendants to verify Shen Shaoguang's presence, openly acknowledging her purpose—to see Miss Shen. In contrast to Deputy Magistrate Lin, who used the pretext of having a meal, even if he wasn’t hungry, he would still have an extra meal.
Outside, a gentle drizzle dampened the air, causing the candles on the table to flicker softly. By the window, Shen Shaoguang patiently instructed A’Yuan in the art of cutting floral huadian.
A’Yuan had been learning the craft at a relaxed pace, progressing from spring through summer, and now into autumn, yet she had not yet fully mastered all the typical flower shapes. Fortunately, there was no urgency in mastering the skill, nor in hastening the teaching process.
As the Princess Imperial of Fuhui entered, she beheld the serene tableau.
Shen Shaoguang rose and performed a curtsy.
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui smiled warmly and spoke, "I apologize for my delay. I was preparing to depart when my maid informed me that my cat had unexpectedly vomited."
Shen Shaoguang, herself a lover of cats, inquired anxiously, "How is it now?"
"I gave it a medical pill, and it hasn't vomited again."
Shen Shaoguang nodded thoughtfully. "It could be the weather. For the next few days, feed it sparingly, especially avoiding hard-to-digest meats, to help settle its stomach."
Princess Imperial of Fuhui sighed. "That's what I thought. This cat has been with me since I was in the palace, over a decade now. I'm not sure how much longer it will be with me."
Shen Shaoguang, touched by these words, nodded sympathetically, sharing in the sentiment.
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui shook her head ruefully. "I don't think I can bear to keep another cat. Enduring such heartache every dozen years is too much for me."
Shen Shaoguang, surprised by the princess's enduring affection, swiftly diverted the conversation. "Princess Imperial, please sample the almond puree I've prepared today."
The process of preparing almond puree mirrors that of walnut puree. Begin by soaking the almonds in hot water and removing their skins. Grind a mixture of soaked husked rice and glutinous rice, strain out any residue, and extract the resulting juice. Cook the blend in a small pot until it thickens. When ready to serve, top with osmanthus honey, sugar, or milk to taste.
Alongside the almond puree, Shen Shaoguang presented a selection of snacks and fruits. Though not particularly hungry, the spread was ideal for leisurely passing the time.
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui gently stirred the bowl with a silver spoon, raised it to her lips, and savored a sip. "It carries a subtle almond fragrance, quite pleasing in its simplicity."
Shen Shaoguang reflected inwardly, ‘Of course! Comparing almond tea from the palace to almond puree is like comparing it to eight-treasure congee. The latter combines various types of rice, beans, and nuts, sweetened with sugarcane juice and adorned with wolfberries, longan fruit, and other toppings. While aromatic and sweet, the almond flavor is entirely masked.’
Shen Shaoguang also offered the Princess Imperial of Fuhui a taste of their gorgon fruit and chestnut flat cake.
Princess Imperial of Fuhui, familiar with the menu's grandiose names, teased Shen Shaoguang. "It's better to just call it what it is, a ‘Gorgon Fruit and Chestnut Flat Cake’. Why must you imitate those pedantic scholars by calling it the 'Fisherman's and Woodman’s Flat Cake'?"
Shen Shaoguang confessed candidly, "To profit from others, one must cater to their tastes."
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui laughed heartily.
"However, I may need to have a serious conversation with your 'simpler, milder' Deputy Magistrate Lin."
Shen Shaoguang quickly clarified, "Princess Imperial, you've misunderstood. Deputy Magistrate Lin is not 'mine'; he remains his own person."
Princess Imperial of Fuhui gave her a knowing look. "Oh, stop pretending!"
"I'm not pretending; our social standings are simply incompatible."
"But despite his affection and your interest..."
"Nevertheless, our social standings are mismatched," Shen Shaoguang replied after sipping her almond puree.
Princess Imperial of Fuhui pondered this. ‘True, marriage is indeed a union of two families.’ Reflecting on her own situation with Pei Fei, she couldn't help but sigh.
After a pause, the Princess Imperial of Fuhui smiled mischievously. "If that's the case, don't dwell on your future together. Simply remain as you are."
Shen Shaoguang was tempted to reply, ‘Isn't that exactly what I'm doing?’ Their undefined connection was incredibly ambiguous. She was almost getting gray hairs from fretting over it. However, before she could respond, Princess Imperial continued, "For now, just sleep with him first."
Shen Shaoguang was immensely relieved that she hadn't been drinking almond puree at that moment, else she might have spat it out, which would have been quite rude.
"Sleeping with him could also be a way to resolve your worries. Perhaps, after spending the night with him, you might not find him as appealing anymore?"
Shen Shaoguang found the Princess Imperial of Fuhui’s logic convoluted, making it difficult to express succinctly.
Seeing Shen Shaoguang's gaze, the Princess Imperial of Fuhui spoke enviously, "If you were to express such intentions to Deputy Magistrate Lin, he would certainly welcome you with ill-matching shoes[1], unlike that surnamed Pei..."
Can "welcome you with ill-matched shoes" be used in this context? The palace's physical education instructors truly juggled multiple roles and responsibilities.
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui muttered, "He won't let me sleep with him, and he won't let me sleep with others. "You don't let me sleep with you, and you don't let me sleep with others. He really is a pot full of vinegar."
Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but laugh at her predicament.
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui glared at her at first, but then she too burst into laughter.
Once Shen Shaoguang finished laughing, she felt profoundly touched. Pei Fei, despite his playboy appearance, actually had principles and boundaries.
"Are Princess Imperial and Sir Pei in a similar situation?" Shen Shaoguang inquired.
The Princess Imperial of Fuhui leaned back in her chair, smiling casually. "Yes. Though even if he doesn't marry me, I will be able to endure it."
Shen Shaoguang had no inkling that Princess Imperial of Fuhui and Pei Fei would maintain their steadfast positions. More than a decade later, the Prince Consort passed away. By then, Pei Fei had ascended to the pinnacle of power as Minister. He was later titled Chancellor and had to be addressed as 'Chancellor Pei', yet remained unmarried. Princess Imperial of Fuhui also stayed true to her words, nearly becoming a paragon of female virtue within the royal court. Unexpectedly, after settling the affairs of the Prince Consort, she chose to become a nun and embarked on travels akin to the former Grand Princess Imperial of Anqing.
Over time, the once-mocking remarks transformed into sighs, and countless poets immortalized this tale in their verses. Ultimately, "persistence" and "missed opportunities" became themes that evoked deep sorrow.
Of course, all this was yet to unfold in the future.
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T/N: I’m really sad knowing that our second cp didn’t end up together in the end. Perhaps there’s an inside story explained later. Fingers crossed!
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Footnote:
[1] Welcoming with ill-matched shoes (倒履相迎) - the idiom literally translates to "wearing shoes the wrong way to greet someone." It figuratively refers to enthusiastically welcoming or greeting guests with great sincerity and warmth. It implies a heartfelt and eager reception of friends or guests. I just changed it to ‘ill-matched shoes’ so that it’s a little shorter, the meaning should still get across just the same.
Source: https://baike.baidu.hk/item/%E5%80%92%E5%B1%A5%E7%9B%B8%E8%BF%8E/9887448
Food:
Almond puree (杏仁酪) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbo0kkjk00A