Volume One Fortune or Misfortune Prologue: Blessing or Curse? - Fish of Songjiang
The icy blade, like water, fell upon the cutting board with the rise and fall of the girl's wrist, producing a series of clear, swift sounds—rhythmic and even, akin to musical notes. The Songjiang perch on the board had already been scaled and deboned, its flesh tender and white. As the melody of the icy blade gradually parsed it into slices as thin as cicada wings, they drifted from the blade like scattered snowflakes, piling up like layers of silk gauze. Under the watchful gaze of Pei Shangshi, hidden in the shadows, they gleamed with a pristine light.
Wu Zhenzhen continued her work of slicing the fish, her hair tied back with a silk scarf, her temples and the subtle makeup on her face meticulously arranged. Gazing intently at the nearly completed perch sashimi, she seemed utterly unaware of Pei Shangshi's presence.
Pei Shangshi had been waiting for her in the kitchen for some time, knowing she would surely come.
Zhenzhen was a palace food official, currently in charge of the Crown Prince Zhao Xi's meals in the Eastern Palace. That day, the Emperor had specially ordered Shen Han, his former tutor and now a Grand Councilor, to enter the Eastern Palace to teach the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince. At noon, the Crown Prince invited Shen Han and his second brother to dine in the Eastern Palace. Upon learning of this, the Emperor commanded Pei Shangshi to go and bestow several imperial dishes.
The imperial dishes were exquisite, including litchi and white kidney, lamb tongue rolls, crispy duck stomach, goose gizzard and trotter soup with pickles, milk curd and jade stamens soup, and quail crystal jelly. The Crown Prince earnestly urged Shen Han and his brothers to pick up their chopsticks, while he himself ate little. Facing the sumptuous delicacies, he smiled but found no flavor in them.
Noticing this, Pei Shangshi asked if the dishes she had prepared did not suit the Crown Prince's taste. The Crown Prince smiled faintly and replied, "It's nothing. I've just recovered from a long illness and can't taste anything at the moment."
He was thin and frail, his skin as pale as ice and snow. Sitting upright, he resembled a jade mountain on the verge of collapse, yet his tone was calm and gentle, like a soothing breeze to those who heard it.
Pei Shangshi fell silent, but Wu Zhenzhen persisted, relentlessly pressing, "Then, is there anything Your Highness wishes to taste?"
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment before answering, "Lately, I've often thought of Songjiang perch sashimi."
Songjiang perch, with its large mouth and fine scales, is fresh, tender, and rich, with no fishy odor. People of the time often sliced it thinly to eat raw, known as perch sashimi.
Zhenzhen's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence! The imperial kitchen has just received some fresh Songjiang perch. I'll fetch one to slice."
"Absolutely not," Shen Han objected upon hearing this. "The Crown Prince has only just recovered from his recent illness. He must not consume raw or cold foods at this time. Perch sashimi is hard on the stomach, and overindulgence can easily lead to internal heat. It is especially unsuitable now."
Unexpectedly, Zhenzhen turned toward Shen Han, bowed slightly, and said, "It is true that excessive consumption of raw and cold foods is harmful to the stomach, but a small taste should cause no harm. Moreover, often when we crave something, it is not our mouths that need it, but our stomachs or our bodies. The body often signals its needs through cravings. For example, when the body needs water, it makes one feel thirsty, prompting them to drink. The Crown Prince finds no flavor in anything, yet he alone craves perch sashimi. Perhaps it is because perch sashimi contains something his body truly needs."
"This..." Shen Han frowned. "Nonsense!" As he was still considering how to refute Zhenzhen's words, the Second Prince, Zhao Ai, chuckled from the side and said, "Zhenzhen's words may not be entirely without merit. Elder Brother has been consuming warm and nourishing foods for years; there might be a risk of over-nourishment. If he now uses a bit of raw and cold food to counteract the long-term effects of warm nourishment, it might not be a bad idea."
The Crown Prince shook his head at Zhao Ai and said gently, "Second Brother, you are not well-versed in medical principles. It would be better to speak cautiously and listen more to Grand Councilor Shen's teachings. Perch sashimi, if consumed excessively, can indeed lead to internal heat and is unsuitable for now."Zhao Ai continued with a gentle smile, "Today, the Counselor discussed historical anecdotes with us, and I too recall one: Dongpo Jushi was extremely fond of sliced perch. One day, he suffered from an eye ailment, and the physician advised him not to eat sliced perch to avoid worsening his condition. Dongpo Jushi said, 'I would like to follow the doctor's advice, but my mouth refuses to comply. It says: I serve as your mouth, while it serves as your eyes—our positions are originally equal. Why must you favor one over the other, depriving me of sustenance just because your eyes are ill?' Now, Elder Brother longs for sliced perch, yet his ears obediently heed advice and wish to abandon the delicacy. If Elder Brother follows the will of his ears, would that not also be favoring one over the other and wronging his heart?"
The Third Prince, Zhao Hao, could not help but chuckle upon hearing this. Shen Han frowned and gave a sharp cough, causing Zhao Hao to immediately fall silent, lower his gaze, and sit upright with proper decorum.
Zhao Ai added, "Zhang Jiyin of the Jin Dynasty was born in Wu Commandery and served as a high-ranking official in Luoyang. One day, when the autumn wind suddenly rose, Zhang Jiyin recalled the water bamboo vegetable, water shield soup, and sliced perch of his hometown and sighed, 'Life is about following one's heart and finding contentment. Why must one chase after fame and titles, traveling thousands of miles from home to serve as an official who finds no joy?' Thus, he resigned and returned to his hometown. Elder Brother, you see, for the sake of sliced perch, even a high-ranking official was willing to abandon everything and return home. What harm is there in following your heart today and tasting a slice or two of the perch sliced by Zhenzhen?"
The Crown Prince merely smiled without speaking. Seeing this, Shen Han bowed to the Crown Prince and said, "The Crown Prince practices self-restraint and upholds propriety, setting an example for all the princes. How could he be swayed by external temptations!" He then turned to Zhao Ai, "Confucius said: Do not look at what is contrary to propriety; do not listen to what is contrary to propriety; do not speak what is contrary to propriety. Today, the Director of Palace Food is serving the Crown Prince at the banquet. Second Great King, you have repeatedly glanced at her, listened to her words, spoken in agreement, and even addressed her by her personal name. These are indeed acts contrary to propriety."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ai smiled and covered his face, saying, "The Counselor speaks rightly: Do not look at what is contrary to propriety; do not speak what is contrary to propriety."
He gestured as if covering his eyes with both hands, yet his gaze, escaping through the gaps between his fingers, drifted toward Wu Zhenzhen, accompanied by an irrepressible smile.
Shen Han sighed, "Second Great King, you are past the age of twenty and should understand principles and set your aspirations. Indulging in whims, whether for fine food or beauty, is unacceptable." He paused, then added earnestly, "Abandoning everything for the sake of emotions is something I would have done at seventeen or eighteen."
Pei Shangshi, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke up calmly, "The key point is that the Counselor had nothing to lose back then."
The room fell into utter silence. The listeners struggled to suppress their smiles, maintaining expressions that were both composed and polite, though it was a difficult effort for them. Shen Han's graying beard trembled slightly. Turning to find that the speaker was Pei Shangshi, a flood of indescribable emotions washed over him. In the end, he held his tongue, and thus, the debate over sliced perch came to an abrupt and unexpected end.
In the imperial kitchen, Wu Zhenzhen arranged the sliced perch piece by piece on a silver platter, shaping them like flower petals. She then filled a lacquered box with crushed ice and placed the silver platter atop it. For the seasoning of sliced perch, spring calls for scallions, while autumn calls for mustard. Zhenzhen ground the mustard, adding salt and orange paste. She also took some "Eight-Harmony Relish," made from ginger, garlic, orange, white plum, roasted chestnuts, glutinous rice, salt, and vinegar, and placed it in the food box for the diners to use as desired.
Holding the food box in her hands, Zhenzhen approached. Pei Shangshi assumed she was heading to the Eastern Palace, but instead, she turned and walked directly toward where Pei Shangshi was concealed.
She knelt before Pei Shangshi, presenting the sliced perch with both hands, and said calmly, "Director of Palace Food Wu Zhenzhen wishes to offer sliced perch to the Eastern Palace. I request that the Lady Director taste it first."In the palace, when those of high status dine, the palace attendants from the Bureau of Palace Provisions must taste the food first, both to assess its flavor and to test for poison. Pei Shangshi examined the sliced perch but did not touch her silver chopsticks. After a moment, Zhenzhen softly asked, "Is it acceptable?"
Pei Shangshi nodded. Over the years, she had honed a keen eye, able to guess the taste of food simply by observing its preparation process.
Zhenzhen expressed her thanks and placed the sliced perch into the food box.
Suddenly, Pei Shangshi said, "The Crown Prince's birthday is in three days. Have all the preparations been made?"
Zhenzhen replied that everything was ready. Pei Shangshi then asked, "Has the Crown Prince been well lately?"
Zhenzhen said, "He has improved a great deal, though sometimes he calls out for Empress Anshu and wakes up startled from his dreams."
Empress Anshu, née Mu, was the birth mother of the Crown Prince and the other princes, and had passed away many years ago.
Pei Shangshi sighed. "The Crown Prince is filial. On his birthday, while others are busy celebrating, he always grieves quietly, missing his mother."
Zhenzhen nodded. "Yes, that is why he thought of the sliced perch."
Empress Anshu loved Songjiang Perch Sashimi, and the Crown Prince would never forget that. Moreover, a part of one's youthful memories is always written by the sense of taste.
Pei Shangshi fell silent. This was the reason Zhenzhen insisted on slicing the fish for the Crown Prince, and also why she did not stop Zhenzhen.
She waved her hand, allowing Zhenzhen to leave with the sliced perch.
Wu Zhenzhen was a unique presence among the palace attendants in the Bureau of Palace Provisions. She was selected from the common folk and entered the palace at the age of seventeen, unlike most attendants who were brought in at seven or eight and trained from childhood. This background gave her a certain "wildness" that set her apart from the other attendants.
There were many people to serve in the palace, so the Bureau of Palace Provisions divided the attendants into groups and assigned them to various halls to serve different masters. The postings of female officials with ranks were designated by those of higher status or by the Director of Palace Food, while the remaining attendants could request their preferred assignments, subject to approval or adjustment by the Director of Palace Food.
Among all the possible assignments, the halls of the three princes were the most coveted by the attendants. After all, they were at a tender age, and their boundless imaginations about the future could find solace in the equally youthful princes.
They hoped for good assignments for themselves and were particularly concerned about their companions' fates. They wished for companions who shared their temperament but feared those whose skills might surpass their own, leaving them unable to stand out. After entering the palace, Zhenzhen was like a seed blown onto the palace roof by the spring breeze; with a bit of soil, she began to thrive. The attendants in the Bureau of Palace Provisions soon realized she was no ordinary companion or rival and secretly observed her, trying to discern her goals.
When it was time for Zhenzhen to request her assignment, the attendants from her batch grew quite anxious. Several girls who had grown up in the palace went straight to her, led by the attendant Tang Li, who asked aggressively, "Tell us, which one will you choose: the Crown Prince, the Second Great King, or the Third Great King?"
Zhenzhen looked around at the attendants surrounding her and calmly retorted, "If I choose one, will you give him to me?"
Tang Li was left speechless, while the others, after a brief silence, burst into laughter that echoed through the Bureau of Palace Provisions. This little story spread throughout the Six Bureaus with the laughter, and many came to know Wu Zhenzhen because of it. That time, she did not apply to serve any of the princes; her assignment to the Crown Prince came later, as a result of chance.Zhenzhen served diligently at the Crown Prince’s residence, her performance beyond reproach, and her caution and attentiveness were no less than those of the palace attendants who had been trained since childhood. Yet Pei Shangshi had never told her or anyone else that she had actually encountered Zhenzhen outside the palace before she entered—a Zhenzhen quite different from the one she knew now.
There were many restaurants by West Lake, offering fine delicacies and renowned pastries. Occasionally, the Emperor would send Pei Shangshi out of the palace to purchase some commoner foods to bring back. That day, Pei Shangshi went to the lakeside Xingyun Pavilion to buy several types of pastries. The shopkeeper recognized her, knowing she was an Inner Lady from the palace, and immediately invited her to an elegant private room upstairs, serving tea and asking her to wait briefly.
The sound of silk and bamboo instruments drifted into the room from the lake, so Pei Shangshi strolled to the window to gaze at the scenery on the water.
The weather was clear and bright at the time, with shimmering ripples on the lake, a gentle breeze rustling through the willow branches, and the fragrance of lotus blossoms wafting through the air. A painted pleasure boat floated in the center of the lake, where several women in elaborate makeup stood, all dressed in fashionable attire, resplendent like courtesans on an outing.
A young man sat at the bow of the boat, smiling as he cradled a ruan in his arms, his slender jade-like fingers plucking the strings. He played the tune "Moon over the West River" into the spring breeze: "I ask the spring scenery by the lake, returning after three years once more. The east wind carries me across the lake boat, willow strands gently brushing my face. Accustomed now to worldly ways, my heart finds ease wherever it roams. Beneath the Cold Light Pavilion, water stretches like the sky, a flock of sandpipers takes flight."
The "young man" sang as he played, dressed in fashionable silk robes, looking like a pampered noble scion. Yet his voice was tender and clear, unmistakably that of a young girl. Pei Shangshi suspected she might be a Musician, but when the song ended, the women on the boat gathered around to praise her. The girl laughed, spreading her arms to embrace them, holding two on either side, and called for a servant to give out rewards, appearing more like a patron seeking pleasure.
This "young man" who sang and sought delight was Wu Zhenzhen. When Pei Shangshi first saw her in the palace later, she recognized her immediately but chose not to reveal it. Years of life in the palace had taught her to be cautious with her words and actions, adhering to the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble. She had grown increasingly silent.
In the quiet of the night, Pei Shangshi often recalled the image of Zhenzhen singing freely on West Lake. At such a tender age, she sang "Accustomed now to worldly ways" without a trace of shadow—did she truly understand the meaning behind those words back then?
Tonight, rain was falling. Pei Shangshi lay on her bed, quietly watching the bamboo shadows dancing on the window lattice. She thought of herself, now sixty years old, still feeling as though every step in the palace was fraught with peril, exercising utmost caution, yet her future remained uncertain and obscure, unsure when she might stumble into an unforeseen abyss of darkness.
She was willing to recall Zhenzhen’s youthful appearance again and again—it was like a beam of light illuminating the depths of her heart, reminding her of many past memories.
Did I, too, possess such spirited confidence in my youth? Pei Shangshi touched her already graying temples and sighed softly.
The sudden rain paused, and the window gauze gradually reflected a brighter hue, suggesting that the scene of a gentle breeze brushing the zither and the bright moon shining through the window would soon reappear. Pei Shangshi drifted into a hazy sleep.
Beneath the eaves where rainwater slid, each drop echoed like the passing of time, ticking away.
At dawn, Pei Shangshi was awakened by a sound outside the window that grew louder, like boiling water. People were running back and forth, seemingly relaying some extremely important news. She opened the door and stepped out, finding several palace attendants kneeling on the steps before her. They bowed their heads deeply upon seeing her, and some began to sob.
"What has happened?" Pei Shangshi asked, inexplicably feeling a chill distinct from the morning air.At first no one answered. Only after she asked again did Ling Fengxian, the palace attendant who had entered the palace with Wu Zhenzhen all those years ago, raise her head and say softly, "The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince is not well..."
Pei Shangshi was startled and quickly pressed, "Not well? What do you mean?"
Ling Fengxian's body trembled slightly, her face unable to conceal her panic. "He's failing... I fear... he's failing..."
(To be continued)
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