The suggestion to select commoner women to replenish the Bureau of Palace Provisions, though proposed by Pei Shangshi, was clearly understood by the Emperor to have originated from the Empress Dowager’s directive. Using the pretext of an excess of palace attendants and the need for reduction, the Emperor flatly refused. However, the Empress Dowager did not give up. She ordered the Department of Palace Affairs to compile a list of elderly and incompetent palace attendants, requesting the Emperor to release them from the palace the following spring. Seeing this request as reasonable, the Emperor had no choice but to agree. With the number of palace attendants sharply reduced, Pei Shangshi once again raised the matter of selecting commoner women to enter the palace. This time, the Emperor did not oppose it but summoned Cheng Yuan and said, "I have few demands regarding food and drink, and the Palace Food Attendants currently serving in the palace are sufficient. However, the Empress Dowager is advanced in years and requires extra care in her meals. Cifu Palace should indeed have additional personnel. The selection area should not be too broad; let it be limited to Liangzhe. The newly appointed Supervisor of the Ever-Normal Granaries, Tea, and Salt Administration for the Eastern Circuit of Liangzhe, Ji Jinglan, is about to inspect various prefectures and counties. Why not accompany him to convey the Empress Dowager’s decree to each locality? Next year in late spring, select women skilled in culinary arts to enter the Bureau of Palace Provisions. The attendants chosen will then be entirely at the Empress Dowager’s disposal."
Cheng Yuan reported the Emperor’s intentions to the Empress Dowager. After careful consideration, she said, "Very well, since he has asked you to go, then go. First, recruit the women; we can discuss their assignments later."
By the time Cheng Yuan and Ji Jinglan arrived in Pujiang, it was already winter. The village banquet was held as scheduled at the Confucius Temple. Magistrate Cui Yanzhi, having received the news early, personally reviewed the menu and adjusted the dishes to welcome the two distinguished guests.
That day, Qiu Niang claimed she had been overworked for days, was exhausted, and unfit to attend the banquet. She requested leave from Magistrate Cui and had Zhenzhen lead her female disciples in managing the banquet affairs. When the banquet began, Zhenzhen immediately recognized Ji Jinglan, her eyes lighting up as she smiled and said, "Mr. Ji, it’s you!"
This Ji Jinglan was the same person who had entered the Suitable Treasure Tower with Magistrate Cui on the day of the broken engagement banquet to sample the delicacies. At that time, he had completed his term of office elsewhere and was returning to the capital for an audience with the Emperor. Passing through Pujiang, he heard his friend and fellow scholar Cui Yanzhi mention the Suitable Treasure Tower and, out of curiosity, accompanied him there. Now, seeing Zhenzhen, he also smiled and said, "Long time no see, Seventh Young Master. Your charm remains as ever."
Zhenzhen, as if meeting an old friend, was overjoyed. She personally poured a cup of wine to toast Ji Jinglan, who drank it all and, after savoring it, asked, "Is this lamb wine?"
Zhenzhen replied, "Yes. Now that winter has arrived, we’ve switched to lamb wine, warmed to dispel the cold, in keeping with the season."
Ji Jinglan’s smiling eyes fixed on Zhenzhen as he said, "This wine is exceptionally sweet and smooth, no less than that of Fengle Tower in the capital. Did your tavern brew it yourselves?"
"We brewed it ourselves," Zhenzhen said, delighted by Ji Jinglan’s praise, and proceeded to explain the method. "We use the finest fatty lamb, cut into cubes, boiled thoroughly with almonds to extract the broth, mixed with rice and yeast, and then fermented with costus root. After ten days, it’s ready to drink."
"Excellent, excellent," Ji Jinglan praised, then asked, "Over the years, has your establishment always brewed its own wine?"
"Yes," Zhenzhen replied with a smile. "Besides lamb wine, we also have rice wine and various fruit wines like green plum, bayberry, mulberry, and osmanthus. If you have time, Mr. Ji, come to the Suitable Treasure Tower, and I’ll treat you to a hearty drink."
Ji Jinglan laughed heartily and repeatedly expressed his thanks.This village banquet had adjusted its dishes according to the season, incorporating many warming and nourishing winter ingredients, making it quite different from the tasting feast. However, at Magistrate Cui's suggestion, the raw crab was retained, though seasoned using the Bianjing hand-washing crab method. After tasting it, Cheng Yuan nodded in approval, praising its delicious flavor and noting its close resemblance to the traditional taste of the Eastern Capital.
Hearing this, Ji Jinglan remarked to Cheng Yuan, "The Suitable Treasure Tower, which makes this hand-washing crab, seems to harbor hidden talents. Its head chef must have extraordinary knowledge. Not only can they replicate the Eastern Capital's flavor in the hand-washing crab, but some of the rare delicacies they present even carry the elegance of noble households."
When Cheng Yuan asked which delicacies had inspired such admiration, Ji Jinglan described a few dishes from Zhenzhen's broken engagement banquet and sighed, "It's just that this girl went to such extravagant lengths out of pride—she doesn't seem to cherish her blessings."
Cheng Yuan smiled faintly and looked toward Zhenzhen. After observing her for a moment, he called her over and gently asked, "I've heard your establishment is named 'Suitable Treasure Tower.' Is there a story behind it?"
Zhenzhen initially intended to give the explanation her mother had previously told her, but on second thought, she found it too ordinary. Instead, she decided to use the anecdote Song Ai had mentioned. Since the esteemed eunuch before her appeared refined and scholarly, he was likely well-read, and sharing this tale of a renowned scholar would surely make him view Suitable Treasure Tower in a more favorable light. Thus, she replied to Cheng Yuan, "The name Suitable Treasure Tower comes from the famous saying of Su Yijian, the Grand Councilor: 'Food has no fixed taste; what suits the palate is precious.'"
Seeing Cheng Yuan smile without speaking, she assumed he might not know the story and proceeded to recount in detail the anecdote about Su Yijian and Emperor Taizong concerning pickled vegetables.
After listening quietly, Cheng Yuan slowly clapped his hands and said, "Marvelous. Your establishment's dishes are delightful, and the Seventh Young Master is both knowledgeable and courteous. It is evident that the owner must be a learned and widely experienced scholar."
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Cui added, "The owner of Suitable Treasure Tower is the Seventh Young Master's mother. She is talented and beautiful, excels in culinary arts, and possesses insight and breadth of mind no less than any man. She is a rare and remarkable woman in Pujiang."
When Cheng Yuan asked why the owner was not attending the village banquet, Magistrate Cui explained her leave of absence. Cheng Yuan sighed, "What a pity. Fate has denied me the chance to meet her."
By the time the fifth cup of wine was served, one of the dishes presented was "sliced rabbit rolls," made by wrapping shredded rabbit meat seasoned with scallions and vinegar in caul fat and deep-frying it. Magistrate Cui found it delicious and invited all the scholars to taste it. The scholars eagerly picked up their chopsticks, but Zhao Huaiyu remained seated upright, not touching the plate of sliced rabbit rolls on his own table.
Noticing this, Magistrate Cui repeatedly urged him to try it. Zhao Huaiyu replied somewhat awkwardly that his stomach had been unsettled lately and he should avoid rich foods. Magistrate Cui insisted, "Just one piece won't hurt. Don't waste the chef's fine craftsmanship."
Seeing Zhao Huaiyu hesitate repeatedly without tasting it, Zhenzhen also approached and whispered to him, "Rabbit meat is a fine winter dish. It is cooling in nature and sweet in taste, known to nourish the middle and boost energy, cool the blood, and detoxify. It's even called 'the vegetarian among meats,' so it likely won't harm your stomach."
Zhao Huaiyu nodded but still made no move to pick up his chopsticks. Magistrate Cui watched, his brow furrowing slightly.
Fengxian, observing the situation, approached from behind with a wine jug, pretending to pour wine for Zhao Huaiyu. However, she seemed to bump into the corner of the table, let out a soft exclamation, and dropped the jug. Both the jug and the wine spilled onto the plate of sliced rabbit rolls in front of Zhao Huaiyu.Fengxian quickly knelt down, repeatedly apologizing, while Zhenzhen immediately stepped forward to help her clean up the mess on the table. Cheng Yuan watched coldly from the side, then turned away with a smile to toast Magistrate Cui, who hastily raised his cup in response, no longer paying attention to Zhao Huaiyu. Seizing the opportunity, Fengxian removed the dish of rabbit meat and soon replaced it with a vegetarian dish from Mussel Tower, placing it before Zhao Huaiyu. Zhao Huaiyu whispered his thanks, his gaze toward Fengxian filled with boundless gratitude.
The Village banquet began at noon and lasted for two hours before concluding. After leaving the Confucius Temple, Zhenzhen privately remarked to Fengxian, "I don’t know why Zhao Huaiyu absolutely refused to eat rabbit meat. Magistrate Cui urged him so insistently—I found it quite awkward. Fortunately, you were clever enough to come up with a solution in time."
Fengxian replied, "He must have his reasons for not eating it. When we encourage guests to try a dish, if they decline once, it might be out of politeness or a minor reason. But if they refuse repeatedly, it means there’s a genuine reason they cannot eat it, and we should stop pressing them. What we see as honey may be poison to them. What we consider good isn’t necessarily what others will like."
Zhenzhen praised her, "You truly consider others’ perspectives and think things through thoroughly."
Fengxian smiled slightly. "Having grown up observing diners’ expressions, how could I not understand such a simple principle?"
Suddenly, they heard someone calling for them to wait. The two women turned to see Zhao Huaiyu hurrying toward them. He rushed up and bowed repeatedly, expressing heartfelt thanks. Zhenzhen glanced at Fengxian and said with a smile, "You should thank Sister Fengxian—she’s the one who helped you... By the way, the method of using silk thread to lift fish scales last time was also her idea. She is the one you described as 'coarse cloth concealing jade.'"
Zhao Huaiyu looked at Fengxian again, his eyes filled with even greater admiration, and he thanked her once more solemnly. Fengxian returned the courtesy with a curtsy. When she raised her head a moment later, her gaze met Zhao Huaiyu’s, and she realized he had been staring at her. Fengxian’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes, no longer looking at him.
"Can you tell us why you refused to eat rabbit meat?" Zhenzhen, unable to contain her curiosity, asked Zhao Huaiyu. "It couldn’t just be a stomach issue, could it?"
Seeing Zhao Huaiyu hesitate, Zhenzhen quickly added, "Forgive my boldness. Please don’t mind—you don’t have to answer."
"It’s all right, I can tell you," Zhao Huaiyu finally spoke, giving her the answer. "Because my mother was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so I will never eat rabbit meat in my lifetime."
Not long after Zhenzhen and Fengxian returned to Suitable Treasure Tower, someone from the magistrate’s office arrived again, saying that the esteemed eunuch from the capital admired the exquisite dishes of Suitable Treasure Tower and was impressed by the owner’s talent. He wished to invite the owner to the magistrate’s office for a conversation. Qiu Niang listened for a long time without responding. Seeing her pale face, Zhenzhen said to the messenger, "My mother is unwell today and cannot go out. We hope the esteemed eunuch can grant us a day’s grace. My mother and I will visit tomorrow."
The messenger replied, "The esteemed eunuch has already considered this and has invited a renowned physician, who is now at the magistrate’s office, ready to examine Madam Wu."
After repeated urging, Zhenzhen helplessly looked at her mother. Qiu Niang slowly rose and said, "I will comply."
She walked slowly to Zhenzhen, gazing tenderly at her daughter, a trace of sorrow flickering in her eyes.
Zhenzhen called out uncertainly, "Mother." Qiu Niang reached out and embraced her, gently stroking Zhenzhen’s face with her right hand as she said softly, "I’ll be back soon. Take care of yourself."Zhenzhen felt her mother's fingers were icy cold and said, "Mother, it's cold. Put on more clothes before you go."
Qiu Niang gave a faint smile without replying. She looked deeply at Zhenzhen, then swept her gaze over the people in the Suitable Treasure Tower. She raised a hand to touch her temple, adjusting her hairpin, and then followed the yamen officers into the distance.
Upon arriving at the yamen, the officers said the esteemed eunuch was waiting in the Plum Hall in the rear courtyard. They led Qiu Niang around the blooming wintersweet trees all the way there. At the Plum Hall, the officers ushered Qiu Niang inside. She saw a figure dressed in eunuch's robes standing with his back to her, hands clasped behind him. The officers reported Qiu Niang's arrival, and the man ordered them to withdraw before slowly turning around. His gaze first fell upon the long shadow cast by the setting sun upon Qiu Niang, and he seemed to savor the fragrance of wintersweet that accompanied her, as if pondering for a long while before finally lifting his head.
Upon seeing Qiu Niang's features clearly, he revealed a faint smile, bowed deeply to her, and then spoke gently, "It has been nineteen years since we parted in Lin'an. Fortunately, Madam's youthful appearance remains, untouched by the siege of time."
His words were gentle, his demeanor refined, yet Qiu Niang felt a chill run down her spine, the edges of her sleeves trembling slightly. She stared at him fixedly for a moment, and the last remnants of hope in her heart extinguished one by one like candles in the wind. Her face turned ashen, and she finally managed only one sentence: "I have but one request... do not harm my child."
Cheng Yuan met her gaze, his eyes revealing neither sorrow nor joy. As if weighing his thoughts for a long while, he finally responded, "I promise you, Madam Ju."
(To be continued)
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