Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 66.1 A Visit from Chu Di

The following day, Chu Di arrived at Shen Indelible Tavern alone.

"A’Ji—" Chu Di entered and greeted Shen Shaoguang behind the counter with a warm smile.

Shen Shaoguang bit her lip, approached him, and bowed respectfully as a junior. "Greetings, Uncle."

A’Chang nearly dropped the stack of plates he was carrying. When did Miss suddenly have an uncle like this? Wasn't he the guest who came yesterday?

Peering through the kitchen curtain, Yu San's expression also shifted at the sight.

Meanwhile, A’Yuan remained composed and unfazed. Given Miss's demeanor, it wouldn't be surprising if she turned out to be a long-lost princess living incognito among the common folk, let alone having a couple noble relatives.

Despite already being convinced, Chu Di couldn't contain his excitement upon hearing her admission. "Excellent, excellent. Our little A’Ji has grown into a fine lady."

"You still look the same, Uncle."

Chu Di scrutinized Shen Shaoguang carefully, and she returned the gaze with equal scrutiny.

How could he still be the same as before? Compared to her memory of Uncle Chu, there were more wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and he even sported some gray hairs on his temples. The once high-spirited young high-ranking official had now transformed into a calm and tranquil Confucian scholar in civilian attire.

Both of them felt a tinge of ruefulness.

Shen Shaoguang invited him to sit in the back house.

As Chu Di gazed upon the flourishing peach trees, the sprawling cucumber vines, and the tender eggplant seedlings, accompanied by the gentle clucking of hens in the small courtyard, a smile of nostalgia graced his lips. "Your father harbored a deep-seated longing to return to the land, to dwell amidst nature's embrace. He dreamt of constructing a quaint thatched cottage, adorning the front yard with peaches and plums, and nurturing a bountiful vegetable garden in the rear. He even meticulously sketched out his envisioned layout." Unfortunately...

Shen Shaoguang recalled a poem she had read before, ‘After half a lifetime of toil, it's time to retire and roam amidst nature,’ and smiled. "I reckon I'm better at growing vegetables than Father was."

Chu Di chuckled.

Shen Shaoguang held the curtain open for Chu Di, and the two entered the main hall together.

The ordinary dwelling lacked the grandeur of official residences. Its rooms were shallow and narrow, with whitewashed walls. Simply furnished with an elm wood table and reclining chairs draped in thick fabric. On the table laid a closed book, a half-weaved bracelet, and a cup of leftover tea. Despite its simplicity, there was an air of leisure about the place.

Chu Di glanced at the book's cover, titled ‘Travel Notes of Aphro Kingdom,’ and couldn't suppress a smile.

Shen Shaoguang tidied up the room, feeling a bit embarrassed. Then she invited Chu Di to sit down and personally served him a cup of sour plum beverage chilled from the well.

Chu Di's attention was drawn to a painting hanging on the side wall. It depicted half of a begonia tree emerging from beside a wutou gate, with many fallen flowers scattered around. There was no title or inscription, only a seal that read ‘Baring in Spring’.

"Is that the begonia tree from the back courtyard?" Chu Di asked.

Despite its vague depiction, the distinctive features were unmistakable to insiders. Shen Shaoguang nodded with a smile. "Yes, in spring, I passed by the wall of the old house and saw that the flowers were blooming more and more beautifully."

She was originally the master of the house, but now relegated to an outsider's perspective. Chu Di breathed out slowly and smiled, "A’Ji, your painting skills are impressive, far more vibrant and engaging than your father’s. His calligraphy and paintings hardly resemble the work of the same person.”

Shen Shaoguang laughed and glanced back at the painting. A blend of delicate strokes and expressive lines, it exuded the airy elegance of ink wash painting combined with the refined detail of gongbi brushwork. The painting was indeed a source of pride. She narrowed her eyes playfully at Chu Di and said, "It's one of my cherished creations, or else it wouldn't have made it onto the wall.”

Chu Di chuckled and lightly tapped her forehead with his hand.

After a few exchanges, Shen Shaoguang inquired about Chu Di's family, then delved into her own experiences of how she left the palace and her life in the Lateral Courts.

As time passes, it's natural to recall only the lighthearted moments. Shen Shaoguang recounted some anecdotes from her time in the Lateral Courts. "Academician Zhao was quite the wine enthusiast. He once joked that if he were to live outside the court, he'd spend a majority of his calligraphy earnings on alcohol... Academician Fang, though reserved, was meticulous. I remember he once refused to teach the qin because the court eunuch had burned a different incense... And Academician Liu, well, he had a tendency to nag. He often insisted, 'Even if you're not taking the imperial examinations, one should still have a basic understanding of the Confucian commentaries on these classic texts...'" Shen Shaoguang mimicked Academician Liu's tone as she spoke.

Shen Shaoguang was referring to the official court academicians, not the eunuchs and maids who later became their teachers.

As she spoke of the court academicians, memories flooded back for Chu Di. He had once inquired about the situation of Shen Residence's mother and daughter with Academician Zhao. Now, hearing Shen Shaoguang mention him, Chu Di couldn't help but recall the past.

Shen Shaoguang also talked about the inner palaces’ dining room, "There were so many eunuchs and palace maids, it was actually a bit overstaffed. Most of the time, most of them were listening to the old eunuch tell mystic tales. Such as what pond lived a lotus fairy, or the rat monster in the dining room, etc."

As Shen Shaoguang spoke of her life in the Lateral Court, she portrayed it as relatively peaceful. However, unbeknownst to her, the more she spoke in this manner, the more distressed Chu Di felt. He couldn't help but wonder how much hardship the young child had endured before she considered this little leisure worth mentioning.

Regarding her departure from the imperial palace, Shen Shaoguang's explanation was even more straightforward. With a smile, she said, "Last year, due to a drought, some palace maids were let go. I paid off the eunuch in charge of dismissals, feigned illness, and left." As she reminisced, Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but recall Deputy Magistrate Lin. At that time, he had a stern expression, which was quite intimidating. Who would have thought that he would now be discussing matters of the heart with her?

Chu Di didn't inquire why she didn't return to Luoyang. Clearly, Shen Shaoguang was a woman of independent spirit. She wasn't the type to become distraught over adversity. If she could manage on her own, why burden others and sacrifice her happiness?

After sharing her own circumstances, Shen Shaoguang also inquired, "How did you recognize me, Uncle? Grand Chancellor Li didn't manage to do so."

Chu Di smiled knowingly and replied, "During my tenure in the Ministry of Justice, I honed the skill of recognizing criminals, even if they were disguised as women. Given mildly inaccurate portraits provided by officials, I could still discern the truth."

Shen Shaoguang widened her eyes in astonishment. Was this keen observation skill an innate talent or a cultivated ability?

What Chu Di didn't mention was his long-standing acquaintance with Shen Qian since their youth. Unlike Grand Chancellor Li, who only became acquainted after Shen Qian's official appointment, Chu Di had known him for years. Their families lived adjacent to each other, fostering a close relationship. Consequently, Chu Di was also familiar with Shen Qian's wife. He noticed that A’Ji's brows and eyes resembled her mother, while her mouth bore a striking resemblance to her father's.

Now that he had raised the issue, Shen Shaoguang straightforwardly implored Chu Di. "Please, Uncle, refrain from disclosing my identity to Chancellor Li. He still holds an official position, and one can never be certain how many eyes are upon him. Given my current circumstances, it wouldn't be appropriate to involve more people than necessary." Most importantly, it would only deepen his sorrow. The pain of losing a dear friend and the burden of ongoing complications for an old friend were distinct matters. It was best to uphold the memory of their departed friend in the same light.

Chu Di nodded solemnly, meeting Shen Shaoguang's gaze with understanding. "So be it."