The final results were not announced that day. Qin Sishan instructed the girls to return to their residences, saying that those selected would be notified by designated personnel.
After the candidates dispersed, Qin Sishan followed Magistrate Shen back to the yamen. She opened the roster of candidates and first made notes beside Wu Zhenzhen’s name. Then, taking another sheet of paper, she wrote a detailed evaluation for Zhenzhen.
Magistrate Shen waited quietly for her to finish before respectfully inquiring who the next selected candidate would be. Unexpectedly, Qin Sishan set down her brush and said calmly, "There is no one else. Only one person is being selected."
Magistrate Shen was greatly surprised. "Today, this humble official saw many talented individuals. How can only one be selected?"
Qin Sishan replied, "This time, a total of sixty Palace Food Attendants are to be selected. The two Zhe regions have fourteen prefectures. Wuzhou, to which Pujiang belongs, alone has seven counties: Jinhua, Yiwu, Yongkang, Wuyi, Lanxi, Dongyang, and Pujiang. It is already commendable if one person from a county is selected. In some prefectures and counties I previously examined, not a single candidate was chosen."
The exquisite taste of the "Xishi's Milk" dish now quietly surfaced in Magistrate Shen’s mind, and he could not help but sigh with regret. "Wu Zhenzhen’s culinary skills are indeed commendable, but it seems Xing Junman’s dishes more closely resemble the meals of nobles. Did you not say her dishes captured six or seven-tenths of the flavor of imperial cuisine?"
"She did achieve six or seven-tenths," Qin Sishan countered. "However, since the palace already has those who can achieve ten-tenths, why select someone who can only achieve six or seven-tenths?"
Magistrate Shen was taken aback and had no response.
Qin Sishan continued, "Xing Junman’s dishes indeed carry the style of noble households in Lin’an. Yet, compared to the skills of those Palace Food Attendants who grew up in the palace from a young age, she holds no advantage. Many palace attendants can prepare those two quail dishes better than she can. As for Wu Zhenzhen’s dishes, though they appear homely, she put thought into refining them, showing great creativity. That Mountain and Sea Pouch, in both appearance and the artistic conception of its name, surpasses... surpasses similar dishes made by palace attendants. She showed me for the first time rapeseed cooked using the stir-frying method and even considered improving the design of the cookware used for stir-frying. This will enable her to create more innovative dishes along the path of stir-frying in the future. Such a girl is precisely the kind of person we seek—different from the common women in the palace, someone who can bring new vitality to the Bureau of Palace Provisions."
"Even so..." Magistrate Shen still sighed, "Miss Xing is truly a pity. At such a young age, she prepared four exquisite dishes in such a short time. With further experience, she is sure to achieve great things. For this selection of Palace Food Attendants, Mussel Tower provided tremendous assistance, preparing for over a month, which was no easy feat. They have also placed all their hopes for bringing honor to their family on Miss Xing... Inner Lady, perhaps you could give Miss Xing another chance and select two from Pujiang."
Qin Sishan resolutely shook her head. "When I select talent, I consider only suitability, not personal favors. Moreover, that Xing Junman is fond of showing off and vain, deliberately disregarding instructions to showcase herself by preparing four dishes without authorization. If this were in the palace, her disregard for a noble’s orders in pursuit of the spotlight could lead to punishment at best, or cost her life at worst. With such a temperament, forcing her into the palace would only harm her."Magistrate Shen, seeing Qin Sishan’s resolute attitude, had no choice but to give up and ceased speaking on Xing Junman’s behalf. However, he soon thought of Fengxian and felt equally regretful. He advised Qin Sishan, "And what about Ling Fengxian? She is gentle, understanding, and quite knowledgeable in pharmacology. Wouldn’t she be well-suited to serve the nobility in the palace?"
"As for her..." Qin Sishan raised her eyes to gaze at the wisteria in the courtyard, where the swaying flowers and leaves cast shifting patterns of light and shadow. "Food and medicine share the same origin, and pharmacology is a field that Palace Food Attendants will inevitably encounter. However, just like being understanding, proficiency in pharmacology has its pros and cons. Whether it is good or bad depends on the intentions of the one who applies it. To heal the world or to harm the people often lies in a single thought of the practitioner. It is difficult for me to judge a person’s character and integrity in just two days, so I simply choose not to. Only when I feel I know a student well enough and believe in her pure and good nature will I recommend her to study pharmacology."
The next day, a Junior Eunuch arrived from the magistrate’s office to deliver the joyful news to Zhenzhen that she had been selected. He instructed her to move into the guesthouse where Qin Sishan and the other female officials were staying to learn etiquette in preparation for entering the palace. Zhenzhen was overjoyed, and Pu Bo and Xiangye came forward one after another to congratulate her, their faces beaming with delight. Zhenzhen immediately thought of Fengxian and asked the Junior Eunuch if she had also been selected. The Junior Eunuch looked troubled and said, "I have not yet heard..." Glancing at Fengxian, who remained silent but maintained a polite smile, he added reassuringly, "Please be patient, young ladies. Perhaps Qin Sishan is still deliberating. Once she has made a decision, she will send someone to deliver the good news."
After the Junior Eunuch left, Zhenzhen comforted Fengxian as he had suggested, urging her to wait patiently for good news. Fengxian smiled but did not respond directly. Instead, she gently said to Zhenzhen, "Come, let me help you pack your belongings. I’ll accompany you to the guesthouse later."
According to the Junior Eunuch, all the clothing and daily necessities Zhenzhen would need from then on would be provided, identical to those of the Palace Food Attendants. Therefore, Zhenzhen did not have much to pack. After some thought, aside from her self-made cooking utensils, she only brought a few mementos related to her mother and the recipe book gifted by Lin Hong. When she saw Lin Hong’s manuscript, Zhenzhen suddenly remembered the previous recipe book that had inspired her to create the extravagant betrothal cancellation banquet. Qiu Niang had left in a hurry without taking any belongings. Later, when Zhenzhen moved to Pu Bo’s small courtyard, she sorted through Qiu Niang’s room and found that book, which she had locked in a wooden chest and brought with her. Now, she opened the chest, retrieved the book, and placed it together with Lin Hong’s work, intending to take them both to the guesthouse.
Fengxian accompanied Zhenzhen to the guesthouse, where they encountered Zhao Ai, who had just returned from an outing in the suburbs. Mounted on his horse, whip in hand, his starry eyes filled with laughter, he still exuded an air of carefree confidence. Beside the hooves of his steed, half-stained with spring mud, two butterflies fluttered gracefully.
Zhenzhen cast a disdainful sidelong glance and whispered to Fengxian, "Idling about all day, neglecting his duties."
Zhao Ai seemed to have overheard her words. With a smile, he dismounted in front of them and said to Zhenzhen, "For an idle prince, amusement is his duty."
Guided by Fengxian, Zhenzhen reluctantly offered him a curtsey before coldly taking her leave. Zhao Ai glanced at the guesthouse she was about to enter and congratulated her with a smile, "Congratulations. I hope you’ll look out for me in the future."
On the final day of the competition among the young women, he had also been at Mussel Tower, hidden in a private pavilion without showing himself. However, he could observe the events in the courtyard, and eunuchs reported to him about what transpired in the kitchen, so he had a general understanding of the proceedings.Fengxian smiled and said, "Since Zhenzhen is entering the palace, it should be her asking the Second Great King for more care. How is it that the Second Great King is instead asking her for more care?"
Zhao Ai replied, "Food is the foundation of life. Since the Palace Food Attendant oversees meals, whether for the sake of delicious food or safety, I cannot afford to offend her."
His words did not seem entirely like a joke. Zhenzhen silently looked at him and saw that his gaze held no hint of teasing. For some reason, the light in his eyes, hidden beneath half-lowered lashes, quietly faded, allowing her to catch a glimpse of what seemed like melancholy.
However, it was only for a brief moment. He soon regained his spirited demeanor and said gently to her, "Go ahead inside. I hope to see you in the palace soon."
Zhenzhen nodded, bid farewell to Fengxian, and walked inside carrying her luggage. Zhao Ai and Fengxian stood where they were, watching her until her figure disappeared behind the screen wall of the guesthouse.
Just as Zhao Ai was about to mount his horse and leave, Fengxian hurried forward and called out to stop him.
Zhao Ai turned back and asked, "What advice does Miss Ling have?"
Fengxian lowered her head in embarrassment and said softly, "Fengxian has an unreasonable request..."
Having observed the situation between the two women earlier, Zhao Ai guessed that Fengxian had not been selected and asked, "Is it that you want me to recommend you to Director Qin? However, this selection of palace attendants is the responsibility of the Bureau of Palace Provisions. I have no authority to intervene. If I forcefully interfere, the Emperor will surely be displeased..."
"No, no!" Fengxian immediately denied, then slowed her speech and said earnestly, "Fengxian knows she has no fortune to enter the palace and would never dare to harbor improper thoughts, asking the Great King to speak well of me. However, I have practiced culinary skills diligently for many years and prepared for this with all my heart and effort for a long time. I feel I made no mistakes during the competition, yet I do not know why I was not selected. Therefore, I boldly hope the Great King can help me ask Director Qin the reason for my failure. It is not to reverse the outcome, but simply to understand my shortcomings so I can improve in the future."
Zhao Ai did not respond immediately. After a moment of silence, he asked her, "Miss Ling, forgive my bluntness, but you come from an official family and could easily marry a suitable husband. Why must you insist on taking the Bureau of Palace Provisions exam to seek an opportunity to serve others?"
"Marry... a suitable husband..." Fengxian bit her lower lip and smiled sadly, "If I cannot pass the Bureau of Palace Provisions exam, my father will marry me off to... Yin Qi."
Who Yin Qi was, Zhao Ai naturally knew, and he instantly understood Fengxian's helplessness and despair. After silently facing her and thinking for a while, he finally agreed, "Very well, I will ask Director Qin."
Director Qin was still in the office, sorting through the documents from this selection with Magistrate Shen. Suddenly, a Junior Eunuch entered and presented her with a letter personally written by Zhao Ai.
After reading it, Director Qin looked grave and frowned in thought. Magistrate Shen, seeing her expression, asked what had happened. Director Qin said the Second Great King wanted to know the reason for Ling Fengxian's failure. Magistrate Shen was immediately shocked and said, "The Second Great King personally wrote a letter to inquire—this must mean this woman is of extraordinary importance to him. Seeing her fail, the Second Great King is quite disappointed, so he specifically asked, hinting that the Inner Lady should select her."
Director Qin replied, "The Second Great King said he had only met Ling Fengxian once and was entrusted by her to simply find out the reason for her failure."Magistrate Shen shook his head repeatedly. "It's not that simple! Do you think the Inner Lady expects the Second Great King to openly declare his admiration for this girl and his desire to have her enter the palace? He is a prince, after all. When he takes a liking to a common girl, he naturally has to appear nonchalant. But we cannot take his words at face value and assume the girl is insignificant."
Seeing that Qin Sishan remained silent, Magistrate Shen continued his earnest persuasion. "It is not wrong for the Inner Lady to uphold her principles, but one must understand that water too clear breeds no fish. As someone serving in the palace, the Inner Lady surely understands this. The Second Great King is of royal blood, and aside from the Crown Prince, he is the closest to the throne. To prepare for the future, the Inner Lady must absolutely not offend him..."
When Qin Sishan still did not respond, Magistrate Shen simply pulled out the final round's list of selected candidates from the newly organized documents, spread it before her, and personally began grinding ink for her. As he ground, he said, "Moreover, that Ling Fengxian is already exceptionally skilled in culinary arts and intelligent. Selecting her for the palace would appear flawless to anyone; no one would say the Inner Lady had any ulterior motives for choosing two palace attendants from Pujiang..."
Finally, Qin Sishan let out a long sigh, slowly picked up her brush, and made an annotation beside Ling Fengxian's name.
Several days later, Fengxian and Zhenzhen boarded the Palace Carriage bound for Lin'an hand in hand. The vermilion wheels rumbled along, bathed in the cold glimmer of winding streams and the clear hues of distant mountains, rolling over the golden road paved with rapeseed flowers, carrying these two common girls into the nine-layered palace that floated in their dreams. They felt a sense of relief, yet also faced a formidable challenge, both aware that a life utterly different from their past was about to begin with a resounding start.
In the jolting Palace Carriage, Zhenzhen took out the recipe book left by Qiu Niang and examined it, gently stroking the cover. She felt both anticipation and unease about the news of Qiu Niang she might learn after entering the palace.
Fengxian noticed this, took the recipe book, flipped through it, and judged, "This book wasn't written by our teacher's wife, was it? The handwriting doesn't match."
Zhenzhen was taken aback. She had also previously thought the handwriting differed from Qiu Niang's usual script, but she reasoned that since the book was written many years ago, it was normal for her mother's handwriting to have changed, so she hadn't speculated further. Now, hearing Fengxian's words, Zhenzhen took the book back for a closer look.
"Although both are in small regular script, our teacher's wife's characters have distinct strength and structure, with side strokes resembling orchids or bamboo, closer to the 'slender gold' style. The characters in this recipe book, however, are much gentler and rounder, without sharp edges. They look like they were written by a smiling woman—likely someone else," Fengxian analyzed.
Zhenzhen flipped through the book page by page, hoping to find some clues. The cover was wrapped in a dark blue silk sleeve, obscuring any writing. Zhenzhen opened the carriage window and held the cover up to the sunlight. Through the mottled light, she could vaguely discern that there were still some remnant pages inside the sleeve.
Carefully, Zhenzhen removed the silk sleeve and discovered that besides the cover, it contained a few pages that had been mostly torn away. On the cover were three characters: "Jade Food Commentary." From the sparse words on the remaining fragments, it appeared that what had been torn away was a preface. The last page of the preface still bore traces of the author, with the final line written in that same gentle, rounded small script: "Recorded respectfully by Director of Palace Catering, Madam Liu."
(To be continued)
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