This time, Lin Shanyue wasn’t startled. She quickly recovered.
“Young Master, you’re awake? I… I’m having rice porridge and stir-fried greens.”
Huo Yi didn’t bother explaining the whole matter of being asleep or awake.
All he knew was that he was starving.
“Is there any porridge left?”
“There is…”
“Fill a bowl and pass it to me through the mirror.”
The moment the words left his mouth, even Huo Yi froze.
He couldn’t believe he’d actually asked someone for a bowl of plain rice porridge.
It was as though something had compelled him to say it.
Without hesitation, however, Lin Shanyue agreed and hurried into the kitchen.
A moment later, she returned with a steaming bowl.
“…Will it really go through?”
She looked doubtful.
Truthfully, Huo Yi wasn’t certain either.
Until now, he’d only tested sending things to her. Nothing had ever come back the other way.
“Give it a try.”
Lin Shanyue nodded.
Carefully, she pushed the bowl toward the mirror.
The instant its rim touched the mirror’s surface, part of it slipped inside.
Then, as if an invisible force had seized it, the entire bowl was smoothly drawn through.
Lin Shanyue’s eyes widened.
So did Huo Yi’s.
A bowl of steaming porridge had actually appeared before him.
It was still piping hot, fragrant with the rich aroma of freshly cooked rice.
He unconsciously swallowed.
He wanted to eat.
But he hesitated.
He was terrified of being disappointed again.
Finally, he picked up the spoon.
Carefully, he scooped up a mouthful and brought it to his lips.
The instant the rice touched his tongue—
Huo Yi’s eyes flew open.
His hand froze.
He concentrated with all his might…
Then suddenly leapt to his feet in excitement.
The chair scraped sharply across the floor.
The commotion immediately attracted the family’s cook and the head butler, Lao Bai.
“Young Master?”
Both hurried over with concern.
Huo Yi pointed at the bowl with trembling fingers.
He…
He could taste it?!
The rich fragrance of the rice awakened taste buds that had been numb for half a year.
For one overwhelming moment…
Huo Yi nearly burst into tears.
“Oh? Where did this shabby bowl come from?”
“I’m sorry, Young Master. I’ll throw it away immediately.”
The cook reached out to take it.
“Nobody touch it!”
Huo Yi reacted even faster.
He snatched the bowl into his arms protectively.
“No one is allowed to touch this bowl today.”
Lao Bai and the cook exchanged bewildered looks.
“…Yes, Young Master.”
Holding both the bowl and the silver mirror, Huo Yi hurried back to his room.
As he ate the plain rice porridge…
His eyes slowly grew moist.
“Young lady… are you still there?”
After passing the porridge through the mirror, Lin Shanyue had remained where she was, feeling somewhat anxious.
Sure enough, Huo Yi’s voice soon came again.
“I’m here.”
“This porridge…”
“It’s delicious.”
“You asked earlier whether there was anything you could offer me.”
“I’ve decided.”
“Just share one portion of your meals with me every day.”
Lin Shanyue blinked in surprise.
“You… eat this kind of food?”
“I do.”
“To tell you the truth…”
“I’ve been hungry for a very long time.”
“Today is the first day I’ve actually been able to eat.”
“So I’ll trouble you from now on.”
“As payment…”
“These are all for you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the mirror shimmered again.
Lin Shanyue stared in astonishment.
Before her appeared a sack of flour.
Several heads of Chinese cabbage.
Some cucumbers.
And an enormous container of…
“…Oil?”
She wasn’t entirely sure.
The cooking oil she’d always seen was cloudy.
This one, however, was crystal clear.
“Young Master…”
“Is this really oil?”
“That’s right.”
“Rapeseed oil.”
“All these ingredients are yours.”
“I’ll provide fresh vegetables every day.”
“You just cook them.”
“Oh, right.”
“Do you need seasonings too?”
Lin Shanyue was completely stunned.
This demon young master…
Could apparently do everything.
She dared not ask for more.
“Young Master, your kindness is something Shanyue will never forget.”
“I wouldn’t dare ask for anything else.”
“From now on, I’ll always prepare an extra serving for you.”
On the other side, Huo Yi was swallowing hard.
“Good.”
Lin Shanyue immediately carried the supplies into the kitchen.
Leaving Xiaobao playing alone on the heated kang bed, she busied herself storing everything away.
Huo Yi continued watching from the mirror.
Remembering that the little fellow could see him, he decided to amuse him while Lin Shanyue wasn’t around.
A plush toy happened to be beside him.
He casually tossed it through the mirror.
Meanwhile, Lin Shanyue worked in the kitchen like a squirrel hoarding food.
Every now and then, Xiaobao’s cheerful laughter drifted from the room.
Her own heart relaxed.
These supplies were far too conspicuous.
The vegetables were one thing.
But the rice, flour, and oil especially would attract attention.
Fortunately, the kitchen had a lockable cabinet.
Without hesitation, she stored everything inside.
She only poured a small bottle of the oil out for daily use.
The quality was obviously exceptional.
It was even clearer than the finest sesame oil she’d ever seen.
Young Master Huo had called it rapeseed oil.
She’d never encountered anything like it.
It was the dead of winter.
Chinese cabbage was common.
Radishes were plentiful.
But cucumbers…
Didn’t they only grow in summer?
She couldn’t make sense of it.
Still, she happily accepted them.
Tomorrow, she could make stir-fried cucumber and hot-and-sour cabbage.
When Lin Shanyue finally returned to the bedroom, Xiaobao had already fallen asleep.
Beside him lay the fluffy stuffed toy.
That must have been another gift from the demon young master.
She couldn’t help smiling.
Any demon who liked entertaining children couldn’t possibly be a bad one.
She cast another grateful glance toward the silver mirror.
It had fallen silent again.
Gradually, she calmed herself.
Food was no longer an immediate worry thanks to heaven’s blessing.
But she couldn’t simply rely on divine help forever.
Over the past two days, she’d already thought through a path forward.
Back in Yangzhou Prefecture, fragrances and perfumes had been popular throughout Jiangnan.
Her adoptive father had been a perfume and incense merchant.
By the time she was little, she’d memorized countless incense formulas.
Although her time in the marquis’s household had been brief, she’d personally seen the luxurious fragrances the Marchioness used.
Among noble families, incense was indispensable.
One particularly famous blend was called Suhe Incense.
Its fragrance resembled hundreds of flowers blooming at once—complex, layered, yet perfectly harmonious.
It was also…
Extremely expensive.
However…
Her father had once taught her a substitute formula.
It was a closely guarded family secret.
No one else knew it.
The scented sachet she always carried already contained many of the necessary ingredients.
After experimenting in her room throughout the night…
Lin Shanyue decided to begin her new livelihood there.
Before going to bed, she carefully moved the silver mirror to another position.
She even clasped her hands together and bowed respectfully toward it.
Watching from the other side, Huo Yi nearly laughed aloud.
Still, he was a gentleman.
When he shouldn’t look, he didn’t.
He quietly set the mirror down as well.
The Next Day — Huo Family Gathering
As usual, Huo Yi was the last to arrive.
His father had never liked this youngest son.
The moment he appeared, another harsh scolding began.
Huo Yi was long accustomed to it.
Slouching into his chair, he let every word enter one ear and leave through the other.
“You’re already this old and still have no manners!”
“How’s the antique shop doing this month?”
“Terribly.”
“Didn’t make a single sale.”
Huo Yi answered lazily.
His father slammed the table.
“What use are you?”
“Lao Bai tells me all you do is collect worthless junk all day.”
“You haven’t made one proper business deal!”
“If this keeps up, you might as well stop running the shop altogether!”
Huo Yi let out a cold laugh.
“I never wanted it in the first place.”
“You were the one who forced it on me.”
“I’ve got no interest in antiques.”
“Big Brother? Second Brother?”
“Want to take it?”
Huo Yi had two older brothers.
The eldest, Huo Chen, had inherited the family corporation.
The second, Huo Feng, had built a successful political career.
Huo Feng smiled.
“The antique business isn’t difficult.”
“The hard part is having the right eye.”
“Third Brother has the talent.”
“He may simply be lacking a bit of luck.”
Huo Chen nodded.
“Maybe you should travel overseas for a while.”
“You might find an opportunity there.”
Huo Yi merely shrugged, thoroughly uninterested.
His father snorted.
“Listen to yourselves!”
“Stop defending him!”
“He’s hopeless!”
“If your mother could see you now, she’d die of anger…”
Before he could finish—
Bang!
Huo Yi slammed both hands onto the table.
“Don’t mention my mother!”
The entire table fell silent.
His eyes had already turned red.
“I’ve told you before.”
“Don’t bring her up.”
“If you’ve got the ability…”
“Then let my mother come see me herself!”
His father’s expression instantly changed.
“Enough.”
“What are you all arguing about now?”
An elderly voice interrupted.
Old Master Huo slowly descended the staircase, leaning on his cane.
At the sight of the family patriarch, both father and son immediately restrained themselves.
“Father.”
“Grandpa.”
Old Master Huo was the treasure of the Huo family.
In his youth, he’d been ruthless.
Now, in old age, he was warm and kind.
“Oh?”
“Our Third has dressed rather well today.”
“How about asking your tailor to make me one too?”
Huo Yi looked down at his clothes and smiled.
“I’ll just give you mine.”
The old man burst into hearty laughter.
“How could I possibly wear your clothes?”
“Grandpa’s still in excellent health.”
“Honestly, you’re in better shape than my eldest and second brothers.”
“Why wouldn’t they fit?”
Old Master Huo laughed even harder, scolding him affectionately between chuckles.
With just a few words, Huo Yi had completely lifted the old man’s spirits.
The atmosphere quickly warmed.
The family dinner ended peacefully.
Afterward, Huo Yi suddenly asked,
“Grandpa…”
“May I visit your study later?”
“I’d like to borrow a few more books.”
Old Master Huo was delighted.
“See?”
“You all keep saying Third doesn’t study.”
“But lately all my grandsons have been asking me for books.”
“Third!”
“Take whatever you like!”
Huo Yi’s father gave him a meaningful look.
Huo Yi merely smiled.
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
Great Qian Dynasty
At the same time, Lin Shanyue was facing an anxious morning of her own.
She rose before dawn and finished making her incense.
Before leaving, she entrusted Xiaobao to Aunt Pang.
After yesterday’s incident, she’d quickly become friendly with her neighbors.
Today she wasn’t heading to the marketplace.
She already knew exactly where she wanted to go.
She made straight for Huayue House in Pingkang Ward.
Pingkang Ward bordered Vermilion Bird Avenue and was one of the busiest districts surrounding the Eastern Market.
It was around mid-morning.
Huayue House had not yet opened for business.
As soon as Lin Shanyue entered, many of the young courtesans stared at her curiously.
“Miss, have you come to the wrong place?”
“We don’t receive female guests.”
Carrying a basket on her back, Lin Shanyue answered nervously,
“No.”
“I’d like to see the manager.”
“I have inexpensive Suhe Incense to sell.”
The room immediately fell silent.
The young women exchanged surprised looks.
One round-faced courtesan kindly pointed upstairs.
“We can’t make that decision.”
“Go speak with Sister Liu upstairs.”
Lin Shanyue thanked her and climbed to the second floor.
Word of the commotion downstairs had already reached above.
As soon as she arrived, a maid greeted her.
“Miss, do you truly have Suhe Incense?”
“I do.”
“This way, please.”
Madam Liu managed Huayue House.
Sitting opposite Lin Shanyue, she examined the incense over and over before finally smiling faintly.
“Young lady…”
“You’re trying to fool me.”
“This isn’t genuine Suhe Incense.”
Her tone was cool and distant.
Lin Shanyue steadied herself and nodded honestly.
“Madam is accustomed to the finest things.”
“I wouldn’t dare deceive you.”
“It truly isn’t genuine.”
“But…”
“Authentic Suhe Incense costs two taels of silver per jin.”
“Mine only costs fifty copper coins.”
The price difference was astonishing.
Madam Liu’s eyes immediately lit up.
She looked at Lin Shanyue once again—this time with genuine interest.