Yummy Yummy Yummy Episode 14 Recap
> Yummy Yummy Yummy Recap
The Princess observed that her nephew, the Seventeenth Prince, was diligently studying with his elderly tutor, Zhao Xunzhi. She suggested to the Prince that a younger, more talented teacher like Lin Yan, the Capital Vice Prefect, would be more beneficial, as she considered him one of her two confidants. An informant overheard this conversation and reported it to Prince Zhao, who promptly summoned Lin Yan.
Believing it to be an urgent matter, Lin Yan rushed to Prince Zhao's Mansion, changing horses three times along the way. Prince Zhao calmly offered Lin Yan tea and explained he had heard the Princess favored him. He proposed that Lin Yan become a close advisor to the Princess, hinting it could aid his career even without marriage. Lin Yan found this suggestion demeaning to both himself and the Princess.
Lin Yan then informed Prince Zhao of the latest appointments: Wei Xiangqin as Minister of War and Song Fangxu as Vice Minister of War. Prince Zhao expressed surprise, questioning if the Princess had told him this, and complimented Lin Yan's good looks, implying the Princess's admiration. Lin Yan questioned Prince Zhao's sudden interest in the Ministry of War appointments.
Prince Zhao claimed that Guo Pingxu, the former Minister of War and his old friend, was worried about his position after returning from a foreign mission and had asked him to inquire. Prince Zhao added that the Emperor was temperamental and often issued promotions that were effectively demotions, advising Lin Yan to secure a patron in the Capital.
Lin Yan, recalling the Princess's previous statement that the former Minister of War was chosen by her sixth brother and disliked by both her and the Emperor, noted the contradiction. Perplexed, he excused himself due to pressing official duties. Upon Lin Yan's return to the Capital Prefecture, he found Pei Fei waiting for him, explaining he had come to share the delicious food the Shen family often sent Lin Yan.
Unexpectedly, the Princess arrived, stating she was returning from Leyou Plateau and had decided to visit. She announced she had obtained some Jiannan Wine and invited Lin Yan and Pei Fei to her mansion to enjoy it with her that evening. Outside the prefecture, Shen Jianshe, having overheard the invitation, quickly pulled his granddaughter Yangyang aside. He instructed her on how to feign illness to prevent Lin Yan from attending the Princess's event.
Shen Jianshe then dramatically collapsed, claiming severe pain, demanding to be taken to a clinic. Lin Yan and Pei Fei rushed out to assist. However, the Princess immediately saw through the charade, accusing them of conspiring to avoid her invitation. Lin Yan nervously denied it. Pei Fei, quick-witted, offered to take Shen Jianshe and Yangyang to the clinic himself and promised to attend the banquet to drink with the Princess. The Princess, seeing through the excuses, allowed it.
Later, Shen Jianshe admitted to Pei Fei that he was scared of the Princess, and Pei Fei confessed that he also didn't want to go, thanking Shen Jianshe for the distraction. Prince Zhao received a report from his servant regarding Lin Yan's recent interactions. The servant confirmed Lin Yan's usual rapport with other officials but noted his close relationship with Pei Fei.
Crucially, the servant revealed Lin Yan's continued avoidance of the Princess, exemplified by him sending Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to various officials, including Vice Minister of Justice Cao Rong, but conspicuously omitting the Princess. Prince Zhao confirmed Cao Rong's identity. Meanwhile, at Shen's Diner, Liu Feng, the owner of Guixiang Tavern, brought his friend, Second Master Huan, to dine. Liu Feng praised Shen's Diner's success and Lady Shen's renowned culinary skills, which had even impressed the Princess.
However, Second Master Huan expressed disdain for the Princess, calling her "immoral and unprincipled" for gathering many attendants, prompting Liu Feng to urge him to guard his words. When Shen Shaoguang came to take their order, presenting the "menu" tied to her waist, Second Master Huan criticized this as frivolous. Shen Shaoguang sharply retorted, pointing out his rudeness and lack of noble demeanor, advising him to cultivate himself. Second Master Huan insulted her appearance and temper, vowing never to return.
Shen Shaoguang dismissed him, saying he lacked foresight. After Second Master Huan left, Liu Feng apologized for his friend's behavior and declared he would no longer associate with him. Shen Shaoguang, appreciating his support, engaged him in a discussion about business, explaining the science behind stir-frying and acknowledging she had also learned from Guixiang Tavern's elegant decor.
That evening, Second Master Huan's uncle severely reprimanded him for his poor exam performance, attributing it to his lack of virtue and caution in speech. He revealed that everyone in the Capital knew the Shen family's close ties to Lin Yan, making offending Lady Shen equivalent to offending Lin Yan. Despite Second Master Huan's reluctance to apologize to a "tavern girl," his uncle insisted, emphasizing Lady Shen's accomplishments compared to his own dependence.
The next day, Second Master Huan reluctantly visited Shen's Diner to apologize, offering a cartload of gifts and asking Shen Shaoguang to intercede with Lin Yan on his behalf. However, after displaying the gifts, he took them back, leaving Shen Shaoguang puzzled by his "cunning" behavior. Later, Shen Shaoguang delivered a meal to Lin Yan. She questioned why he had merely left the food box at the diner's entrance the previous day.
Lin Yan admitted he had seen her happily conversing with Liu Feng and didn't want to disturb them. Shen Shaoguang explained she was seeking business advice from Liu Feng, praising his kindness, clear-headedness, wealth, and good looks, calling him a "rich boy" who was "rich for several generations" and likely popular with many young ladies in Yong'an.
As she spoke, Lin Yan's mood soured, and he complained the fish dish was "sour" and "bad," which Shen Shaoguang playfully pointed out, noting his unusual aversion to vinegar today. Just then, Pei Fei arrived, witnessing Lin Yan choking on a fish bone. He jokingly suggested Shen Shaoguang was trying to "murder her husband," prompting Lin Yan to clarify that his engagement with Shen Shaoguang had been canceled and Pei Fei should not tarnish her reputation.
Pei Fei expressed surprise, mentioning the widespread rumors at the Censorate about Lin Yan's close ties with the Shen family and the recent incident with the Huan family, leading people to believe he was marrying Shen Shaoguang. He argued that as a censor, he must report hearsay, and highlighted Lin Yan's upright character, successful career, and good looks, making him a desirable match for many families.
Sensing Lin Yan's lingering affection for Shen Shaoguang, Pei Fei advised him to acknowledge his feelings and seize the opportunity, contrasting their potential "mutual affection" with the "never sweet" outcome of a forced marriage. Lin Yan dismissed this, asking if Pei Fei was implying he was being coerced into marriage, which Pei Fei nervously denied.
Moments later, a servant from the Princess's Mansion arrived with another invitation for both Lin Yan and Pei Fei to attend a gathering that evening and the next. Pei Fei immediately declined on both their behalf, citing pressing official duties and the principle of prioritizing public service over private engagements. Lin Yan followed suit.
After the servant reported Lin Yan and Pei Fei's repeated refusals, the Princess, undeterred, remarked that while some might dislike poetry or flowers, "food and sex are in human nature," and by "catering to their preferences, they will come eventually." She then sent for Shen Shaoguang to prepare a meal at her mansion, as she missed Shen's Diner's food and found Guixiang Tavern's cakes too sweet.
Upon receiving this news at the Capital Prefecture, Lin Yan immediately ordered his horse to be prepared. Pei Fei tried to escape, claiming he had guests at home and needed to leave. Lin Yan, however, insisted Pei Fei accompany him, teasing him about his fear of the Princess. When Pei Fei still refused, Lin Yan dramatically threw him over his shoulder and carried him off to the Princess's Mansion.
At the Princess's Mansion, Shen Shaoguang prepared melon wine, joining the Princess at the table. Lin Yan and Pei Fei arrived, apologizing for their tardiness and claiming to have finished their duties. The Princess invited them to dine. Pei Fei tried to claim he had already eaten, but the Princess insisted he eat again. Internally, Shen Shaoguang worried that the Princess was using her to get to Lin Yan and might target her due to the "fake engagement."
The Princess then commented on Shen Shaoguang and Lin Yan appearing to be a good match, despite being cousins. Shen Shaoguang quickly clarified that their relationship was merely familial and that she, of humble status, was unworthy of a distinguished scholar like Lin Yan, who deserved a "well-born, well-read, and good-looking" partner. The Princess then turned the question to herself, asking Shen Shaoguang how she rated.
Shen Shaoguang, in turn, praised the Princess as a "top-notch beauty" deserving of an equally accomplished man, reiterating her own unsuitability. At this point, Lin Yan stood up and stated he already had "someone I admire." The Princess laughed wryly, realizing the misunderstanding: Lin Yan had believed she was pursuing him, hence his repeated rejections. Lin Yan shared a bitter smile.
The Princess then directly addressed Pei Fei, explaining that she had been captivated by him since she first saw him playing the guqin at the Qixi Poetry Gathering, where his "elegant and unrestrained" demeanor, "like a Wei-Jin scholar," had left an indelible impression. She compared his performance of "Wine Mad" to that of Ruan Ji, saying Pei Fei truly captured its spirit. The Princess lamented that Pei Fei, despite knowing her feelings, consistently avoided her.
She revealed that her husband was gravely ill, and while she intended to care for him until the end, she also desired not to neglect her own feelings, thus using Lin Yan as a pretext and inviting Shen Shaoguang to ensure Pei Fei's presence. With the misunderstanding resolved, Lin Yan acknowledged his "presumption" caused the error. Pei Fei nervously agreed it was all a misunderstanding.
The Princess, however, firmly stated that her feelings for Pei Fei were "not a misunderstanding" and vowed to make him understand one day. Shen Shaoguang, relieved that her family was safe, was left to ponder the identity of Lin Yan's "admired person."
Later, as Lin Yan and Shen Shaoguang walked through the bustling streets of Yong'an, made lively by the relaxed curfew, Shen Shaoguang playfully teased Lin Yan about his earlier "narcissism" in thinking the Princess was interested in him, using the Greek myth of Narcissus to explain the term.
When asked if his "admired person" was real, Lin Yan initially said yes, but after a moment of reflection and a close call in the crowd, he clarified that it was merely a made-up excuse to deter the Princess. Shen Shaoguang praised his quick wit and acknowledged that the Princess's actions were indeed misleading. She then advised Lin Yan that "as long as the other party hasn't said they like you, it doesn't count," and playfully told him to "protect yourself."
