Lin Dan returned after two nights on the outskirts of the city. She had already sold her shop to Madam Qin so she needed to move her belongings out to make room for the new owner.

“Can’t you just keep the shop and continue running Hometown Dishes Restaurant?” Madam Qin felt like the biggest fool in the world, having bought the shop only to wish she could give it back. She couldn’t bear the thought of never tasting Shopkeeper Lin’s dishes again. It made life seem unbearable.

“No, I’m not reopening. My business in the capital is almost done and it’s time for me to go somewhere else.” Lin Dan had grown accustomed to a wandering life and never stayed in one place for long.

As they spoke, there was a constant pounding on the door outside, accompanied by loud shouts, “Is Shopkeeper Lin back? When will the shop reopen? Shopkeeper Lin, Shopkeeper Lin……” After shouting for a long time without receiving a response, the people outside finally sighed and left.

This had been happening ever since Lin Dan left. Almost every little while, someone would come knocking on the door, asking about the restaurant. With Hometown Dishes Restaurant close, the people in the Southern District could only dream of tasting authentic hometown dishes. In these times, most of those who left their hometowns to earn a living in the capital were strong, able-bodied men. They couldn’t cook, and even if they could, they couldn’t replicate the flavors that Lin Dan created, so they had to settle for plain, dry cornbread.

When life could be good, who would want to live through hard times? When delicious and affordable food was available, who would want to eat cornbread? Without Shopkeeper Lin, life was hard to endure!

Lin Dan seemed oblivious to the commotion outside and continued packing her things. Madam Qin, however, spat and sneered, “Don’t open the door, let them be anxious! They’ve eaten so much good food from this place, but when trouble came, not a single one of them helped. A bunch of ungrateful beasts!”

Lin Dan smiled but said nothing. They weren’t exactly beasts, it was just the harsh reality of the world. Still, she had to thank Madam Qin. If it weren’t for her and her girls driving away Madam Zhou that day, the trouble might have dragged on much longer. If someone was willing to help, it was kindness; if they weren’t, it was their right, and one couldn’t blame them for that.

That was why Lin Dan had sold the shop to Madam Qin at the low price of ten taels of silver and had also given her recipes for brewing wine and a few dishes to pair with it. Although a brothel wasn’t a place for dining, drinks and appetizers were always in demand. Those recipes were enough to repay the other party’s kindness.

As Lin Dan continued packing, they suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream outside, mixed with the sounds of pleading and kowtowing. The noise was so loud it was irritating.

“Who’s fighting at the door? I’ll go check. You stay inside and hide.” Madam Qinsaid, tossing her broom aside and heading out.

There was no way Lin Dan would let the other party take the risk. She pulled Madam Qin behind her, grabbed a kitchen knife, and headed out. She peeked through the door and saw Tang Cheng standing tall at the foot of the steps, while several guards pinned a few thugs to the ground, breaking the bones in their hands one by one with the backs of their swords.

The screams and pleas were coming from these thugs. Nearby, a young man was kneeling with his hands tied behind his back— it was Tang Peng. His hands were strapped to his back and he was angrily shouting, “Ninth Brother, you’re humiliating me like this for an outsider? When I return, I’ll write to Uncle and let him know!”

“You abuse your power and oppress the people, and yet you still think you’re in the right?” Tang Cheng’s tone was indifferent.

“Isn’t what you’re doing right now also an abuse of power?” Tang Peng continued to struggle but was forced to kneel by Zhao Liu, who pressed down hard on his shoulder.

Tang Cheng ignored him. Hearing the movements from inside, he turned around and his eyes lit up. “Lin Dan, you’re back.”

“What’s going on here?” Lin Dan had intended to point at Tang Peng and the thugs, but when she lifted her hand, she realized she was still holding a kitchen knife and quickly put it down.

Tang Cheng cupped his hands in shame. “The authorities received an order from Tang Peng and therefore did nothing about the arson case. I’ve brought him here today to apologize for his wrongdoing. These thugs were the one who did it.” He clearly knew that Lin Dan was inside the shop, so he wasn’t afraid of making a wasted trip.

Lin Dan’s expression showed sudden understanding. She glanced at Tang Peng, who was still cursing and shouting and said gratefully, “Thank you, Young Master, for standing up for me. I accept this apology.” With that, she started to close the door.

Tang Cheng quickly placed his hand in the doorframe, his voice tinged with pleading, “Then, will you stay?” Ten years ago, he hadn’t been able to keep Lin Dan. Ten years later, he hoped the ending would change. No one knew how many times he had seen Lin Dan’s stubborn figure walking away in his dreams, only to gradually disappear into the mist, leaving him waking up in a cold sweat, filled with guilt.

If it hadn’t been for his blind faith and forcing Lin Dan to compete with Yan Langqing, Uncle Lin wouldn’t have suffered such injustice after his death. He had grown up eating Uncle Lin’s cooking and should have known what kind of person Uncle Lin was. But at that time, it was as if he had been under a spell— whatever Yan Langqing said, he believed, and in the end, it led to Uncle Lin’s reputation being ruined, forcing Lin Dan and Madam Qi to leave and wander for years.

In his life, he hadn’t done many things to feel guilty about, except for what he had done to Uncle Lin, Lin Dan, and Madam Qi. Seeing Lin Dan return to the capital after so many years and rebuild the Lin family’s name made him happier than anyone else. He knew how capable Lin Dan was. Given enough time, she could surpass even Uncle Lin’s achievements.

But some people simply couldn’t bear to see her succeed and kept using dirty tricks to force her away once again. Now, Tang Cheng’s hatred for the Yan family had seeped deep into his bones. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken action to have Yan Langqing stripped of her position as imperial cook.

He emphasized his words and repeated, “This time, can you stay? I promise that no one will dare to humiliate you in the future.”

Lin Dan smiled faintly but still shook her head firmly.

The anticipation in Tang Cheng’s eyes instantly faded, and just as he was about to say something more, a man squeezed through the crowd and nervously said, “I am a servant of the Yan family, here to deliver a letter from my young lady.”

“Give it to me.” Lin Dan extended her hand to receive the letter, then slowly exhaled. The person she had been waiting for had finally shown herself……

Tang Cheng glanced at the letter and saw a line of characters written in Zanhua^[1]Hairpin Flower regular script— 「Sixth day of the Sixth lunar month, Xiangyuan^[2]Perfumed Garden Gathering」. Xiangyuan was an imperial estate and ordinary people couldn’t even get close to it, let alone enter. It was one of the Emperor’s favorite gardens, guarded by imperial guards all year round. Given Yan Langqing’s status, how could she have the authority to use it? Could it be that she had the Emperor’s approval?

At this thought, Tang Cheng suddenly recalled the message his sister had sent him before, saying that the Emperor had been favoring Yan Langqing in recent years and seemed to have the intention of bringing her into the harem. Because of this, there were also rumors that the Noble Consort intended to arrange a marriage for Yan Langqing, to marry her into the marquis’s household.

If the Emperor was indeed backing Yan Langqing, this competition might not be so fair. So he whispered, “Xiangyuan is a royal garden and no one can use it without an imperial decree. The last person to host guests at Xiangyuan was Her Highness, the Grand Princess.”

Lin Dan frowned slightly, then nodded after a moment and said, “I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Young Master.” Her tone was unhurried and she seemed very relaxed.

Tang Cheng couldn’t discern what she was thinking and continued, “I can find a way to cancel this competition.” An unfair competition wasn’t worth participating in. Let Yan Langqing fall out of favor first, and then they could compete later. Fairness was rare in this world, but he wanted to give Lin Dan justice— one that had been delayed for ten years.

“There’s no need. I have my own way of handling it.” Lin Dan said with a smile, shaking her head. She had waited ten years and had no patience left to wait any longer.

“Think it over. Yan Langqing has the Emperor’s protection and the judges she invites will not dare to let her lose.” Tang Cheng tried to persuade her, but seeing no change in her resolve, he had no choice but to lay it out clearly.

Lin Dan waved her hand and repeated, “I have a way, Young Master need not worry.”

Tang Cheng gritted his teeth as he looked at Lin Dan, feeling both helpless and moved. Lin Dan was still as stubborn as ever, but it was precisely this stubbornness that had made her who she was today.

“Fine, I’ll figure out a way for you!” With that, he strode off, dragging Tang Peng along.

Madam Qin stood on tiptoe to glance at the letter and sighed, “Xiangyuan, huh? That’s the Emperor’s favorite place and ordinary people aren’t allowed in. Shopkeeper Lin, don’t be so stubborn with Young Master Tang. Making occasional compromises doesn’t mean you’ve lost. We know your skill. There’s no need to use an egg to hit a rock^[3]to attack somebody much stronger than oneself.”

Lin Dan shook her head, her gaze unwavering.

———pr

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

The sixth day of the sixth lunar month arrived quickly. Lin Dan accepted the invitation and came to Xiangyuan, passing through numerous checkpoints and undergoing several inspections before being allowed inside. The garden had guards stationed every five steps and pavilions every ten steps, with patrolling guards and stern-faced palace attendants everywhere. It exuded a true royal atmosphere.

If it were an ordinary person entering, they would have been scared out of their wits and wouldn’t dare to continue the competition. Without a doubt, before they even met, Yan Langqing had already given Lin Dan a show of force. Lin Dan didn’t know who she really was, but she could guess that her situation must be quite extraordinary, perhaps even tumultuous because despite the grand scene, she felt no fear. Her heart was as still as a pond, without the slightest ripple.

She walked calmly into the inner courtyard and entered the main hall, where she saw a handsome man seated in the main seat. She immediately knelt down and kowtowed. The man was wearing bright yellow soled boots, confirming without a doubt that he was the Emperor.

“Rise. I heard that you wish to compete with Langqing in cooking, so I came out of the palace to witness it.” The Emperor said with a seemingly magnanimous smile. “In this competition, you may showcase your skills without any concerns. Whatever ingredients you need, just ask, and the palace staff will prepare them for you.”

Yan Langqing lowered her head and covered her mouth, feigning shyness. The Emperor glanced at her and smiled even more gently. He appeared to be impartial, but his few words had already hinted at his close relationship with Yan Langqing. Who would dare go against his wishes?

The judges exchanged glances, each lost in their thoughts. Among them were retired imperial cooks, renowned gourmets, and cooks from famous restaurants, all well-versed in the culinary arts.

As Lin Dan scanned the room, a sense of realization dawned upon her. Most of the people present had been involved in that competition years ago, as if time had rewound and the past had returned. Additionally, familiar faces like Young Master Tang, Prince Cheng, Prince Gong, Marquis Weiyuan, and The Prince of Dianqian were all seated nearby, watching. Even Yan Shouye, who should have been bedridden after being punished, had come, glaring at her with a mixture of resentment and glee.

Lin Dan curtsied and directly asked, “Your Majesty, can you ensure the fairness of this competition?” The Emperor prided himself on being a wise ruler. When he first ascended the throne, he encouraged open dialogue and recruited talented individuals. He had also been particularly lenient with officials who dared to speak out or even risk their lives to criticize him. By addressing the matter directly, Lin Dan left him no choice but to agree.