Zhenzhen said, "I wish to propose to Li Shishou and the Bureau of Palace Provisions that they jointly petition His Majesty. On days when there are court assemblies, the imperial kitchen could prepare breakfast and deliver it to the Waiting Hall for officials to partake. The Bureau of Palace Provisions could assist in the process, helping with the cooking and transportation of the food."
Li Dahong was startled. "There are so many officials—how could that be easily managed?"
Zhenzhen had already considered this question and now replied calmly, "Since it is inconvenient to set up stoves in the Waiting Hall, breakfast could initially consist of pastries and cakes, accompanied by soups prepared in the imperial kitchen. These foods can be made in large batches. With over four hundred people in the imperial kitchen, it would be entirely possible to meet the needs of the officials."
Seeing Li Dahong frown in silence, Zhenzhen continued, "I have already suggested this to Pei Shangshi, and she also believes that if implemented, many would benefit—especially young officials whose households lack sufficient help to prepare every meal... I have heard that over the years, Li Shishou has engaged renowned masters to nurture his son, who now writes beautifully and has become an attendant in the academy. He must also frequently attend grand court assemblies, right? However, as Li Shishou has long worked in the imperial kitchen, I wonder how many times his son has had the chance to taste his father's breakfast?"
Li Dahong sighed heavily. "Since taking on this imperial duty, I only return home once every ten days or half a month, and even then, I seldom cook. In his twenty-some years, he has hardly tasted a meal prepared by me."
"So, if this opportunity allows your son to taste his father's cooking, it would surely be a comfort to him," Zhenzhen said. "Moreover, caring for one's own child extends to caring for others. If Li Shishou channels his paternal love into his culinary skills, preparing breakfast with care so that all officials from humble backgrounds may benefit, it would be a great act of merit."
Li Dahong returned to ponder the matter and discussed it with the imperial kitchen and relevant supervisors of the imperial food department. Many supervisors whose sons or nephews were officials or scholars approved of the idea, believing that although it would increase their workload, it would indeed benefit a great number of officials and was a worthy endeavor.
Thus, the imperial kitchen and the Bureau of Palace Provisions jointly petitioned the Emperor with this proposal. The Emperor also found it feasible and ordered the relevant departments to deliberate. The Three Departments deemed the cost acceptable and believed it would alleviate some of the officials' concerns, allowing them to focus more on state affairs. Moreover, such occasional acts of grace would subtly enhance their sense of belonging to the court, making it a viable plan. Most censors and remonstrance officials were also in favor, with little opposition. Unexpectedly, the most stubborn opponent turned out to be the Emperor's mentor, the Vice Grand Councilor Shen Han.
In the court, Shen Han raised his arm and spoke indignantly to the Emperor, "Before dawn, when the fourth watch has yet to pass and the jade water clock still drips, the chief ministers and officials have already gathered outside the palace gates, holding lanterns that form a magnificent spectacle of light—a grand display of the imperial majesty. The people gaze upon this radiant 'city of fire' and the towering palace gates, bowing in reverence. Before the palace gates open, the chief ministers in the Waiting Hall either contemplate great plans to recommend the virtuous, expel the treacherous, and bring peace to the realm, or discuss state affairs with their colleagues, awaiting the morning audience to report to the Son of Heaven. Even while waiting, their hearts remain devoted to diligent governance. This is why the court, following the old system of previous dynasties, established the Waiting Hall outside the imperial city gates—to provide a place for officials to gather at dawn and await the court assembly. Thus, the Waiting Hall, like the place where Your Majesty attends to affairs, is an extremely solemn and dignified space. If pastries and soups are set out there for people to eat, with noise and clamor, scraps littering the ground, the officials would lose their solemnity, and the Waiting Hall would no longer be a place of tranquility. This would truly be a breach of decorum!"
The Emperor looked around at the assembled officials. "Regarding Vice Councilor Shen's words, do any of you have further insights?"Most officials kept their eyes downcast and remained silent. After a moment, Ji Jinglan stepped forward, bowed to the Emperor, and said, "Councilor Shen's words hold considerable merit. However, I believe that when our ancestors established the Dawn Court, in addition to the reasons Councilor Shen mentioned, there was also the intention to show consideration for officials who had to rise early, providing them a place to temporarily shelter from the cold and rest briefly. This act greatly demonstrates the Emperor's benevolence. Whenever I reflect on this, I am moved to tears. Now, Your Majesty intends to bestow food upon the officials waiting at the Dawn Court, continuing our ancestors' care for their ministers. This would allow the officials to be free from concerns about cold or heat while also enjoying the pleasure of a full stomach—truly a wonderful thing. Therefore, I believe this matter is feasible. The court officials are all scholars; it is unlikely they would be as boisterous in the Dawn Court as in public taverns. As for food scraps, as long as some cleaners are assigned to sweep at any time, the courtyard can remain clean."
The Emperor stroked his beard, smiled faintly, and nodded, clearly in full agreement with Ji Jinglan's words.
Seeing this, Shen Han grew even more displeased. He glared angrily at Ji Jinglan and said, "Scraps can be cleaned up at any time, but what about the odors emitted by the food? If everyone were like Academician Ji, fond of eating onions and leeks, causing the Dawn Court to be filled with the smell of meat and fish all day long, how could a place for awaiting court audiences maintain any dignity if it resembles a kitchen?"
A wave of suppressed snickers immediately rippled through the court. Ji Jinglan flushed crimson with embarrassment, stared wide-eyed at Shen Han, and stammered, "You, you... how utterly unreasonable!"
"Enough, let us conclude the discussion on this matter for today," the Emperor timely intervened to rescue Ji Jinglan, announcing, "Since most of you ministers approve, I shall order the imperial chefs and the Bureau of Palace Provisions to prepare for this. We will implement it in the Dawn Court for a few days first. If the court officials find it satisfactory, it may continue; if, as Councilor Shen said, the drawbacks become evident, it can be promptly discontinued."
When this court dispute reached the Bureau of Palace Provisions, the focus of the female officials somewhat strayed, with most laughing at Ji Jinglan's fondness for onions and leeks. Only Pei Shangshi, as usual, scorned Shen Han: "That old scoundrel, has he forgotten the days of his youth when he would clutch a pastry bought from the roadside in his left hand, control an old and skinny horse with his right, and munch on the pastry while rushing to court?"
Hearing this, all the women laughed. Zhenzhen also joined in the laughter, suddenly recalling that Pei Shangshi was usually cautious with her words and actions, never lightly commenting on court officials, yet she showed no courtesy toward Councilor Shen, each time criticizing him with sharp words, almost as if they were acquainted.
"Did Lady Director know Councilor Shen from their youth?" Remembering that Pei Shangshi and Shen Han were close in age, Zhenzhen couldn't help but ask.
"Who knows him!" Pei Shangshi snorted contemptuously. "It's just that he talks a lot and often requested audiences with the late Emperor. I frequently attended the late Emperor, and over time, he became a familiar face to me, that's all."
Zhenzhen asked further, "How did the Director see Councilor Shen riding his horse to court?"
Pei Shangshi replied, "The late Emperor often sent me out of the palace to buy some food. Sometimes I would leave as soon as the palace gates opened and occasionally run into him... Every time I saw him, I wished I could wash my eyes. That pastry—if he wanted to eat it, fine, but after eating, he would sometimes leave a few crumbs on his mustache, making one truly want to toss him a comb so he could clean it up himself!"She frowned and shook her head, sighing repeatedly as if once again witnessing Shen Han's unbearable table manners. Her vivid expression and tone made all who heard it burst into laughter, but Pei Shangshi suddenly snapped to attention and scolded the women, "What are you laughing at? Have you finished all your tasks? Still slacking off here!" She then turned to Zhenzhen, "Have you prepared the breakfast menu for the Waiting Hall? Although that old fool spouts a lot of nonsense, we should take seriously the issue of food odors he mentioned. The food provided to the Waiting Hall must not have strong smells. Additionally, prepare mouth-rinsing water and some cloves for the court officials to use."
Zhenzhen consulted the opinions of Pei Shangshi and the Imperial Kitchen to draft the breakfast menu for the Waiting Hall. The main dishes consisted of steamed buns, stuffed buns, and various pastries, with fillings avoiding strongly flavored seasonings. Common items included fried flower buns, bamboo shoot and meat buns, sweet meat buns, crystal buns, goose and duck buns, shrimp and fish buns, as well as crispy cakes, sugar pine nut cakes, flaky pastries, sweet dew cakes, jade yam cakes, hibiscus cakes, and so on.
Pei Shangshi specifically mentioned that the "Imperial Academy Steamed Buns" once made by the Imperial Academy kitchen in Bianjing were renowned throughout the capital. Filled with bamboo shoots, ferns, and meat, seasoned with Sichuan pepper and salt, they were praised by all who tasted them. Even Emperor Shenzong had remarked, "With this to nourish scholars, we can be without shame." Since then, scholars took pride in regularly eating Imperial Academy Steamed Buns. Zhenzhen inquired in detail about the recipe for these buns and had the imperial chefs prepare them for the Waiting Hall. They were indeed highly popular among the court officials, often snatched up as soon as they were delivered.
Zhenzhen then recalled the earlier dispute over the village banquet, realizing that historical allusions and auspicious meanings were indeed important factors in these scholars' food choices. She selected a recipe named "Guanghan Cake" from the notes Lin Hong had given her and taught the imperial chefs to make it: dried osmanthus flowers sprinkled with licorice water, mixed with rice and pounded into flour, then steamed into rice cakes. Once slightly dried, they were cut into long strips resembling the size of a court tablet.
The name of this pastry carried the symbolism of ascending to the heights of Guanghan Palace and plucking the laurel from the moon, while its color and shape resembled a jade tablet. Thus, it quickly gained favor among the court officials, often with each person taking one "tablet" to share.
After half a month of dining in the Waiting Hall, the response was excellent. Apart from Shen Han, who remained dissatisfied, the other ministers' opinions were merely about the variety and taste of the food, with no further objections to the practice itself.
One day, the Emperor ordered Zhenzhen to wait in the hall designated for officials of the third rank and above in the Waiting Hall to continue gathering their opinions on breakfast. Zhenzhen left the imperial city the night before and waited quietly in the Waiting Hall. After the fourth watch, the first to enter was Shen Han. He stared at Zhenzhen as she bowed to him, recognizing her as one of the Bureau of Palace Provisions attendants who had caused a scene at his daughter's wedding. When Zhenzhen asked for his opinion, he replied irritably, "My opinion is that there should be no food in the Waiting Hall! Young as you are, instead of learning properly from Pei Shangshi, you actually encouraged The Emperor to do something so disrespectful to imperial dignity!" Growing angrier, he angrily pulled the jade tablet from his waist and slammed it on the table. I have thoroughly studied the classics and found many historical references advising The Emperor to abolish dining in the Waiting Hall. I am waiting to present them to The Emperor at court."
Zhenzhen noticed dotted handwriting on the jade tablet, likely notes of the key points of the allusions he had recorded. Faced with his fury, she refrained from saying much, merely smiling slightly, bowing again, and retreating to a corner to continue waiting.Shortly after, several officials of the first and second ranks arrived one after another. They were quite polite to Zhenzhen, offering their opinions to her before each taking some pastries arranged in the hall to eat. Only Zeng Jie, the Vice Minister of Rites, did not take any food. Instead, he sat alone with a cloud of gloom over his face, sighing from time to time. When a colleague asked him the reason, he replied, "Yesterday, an old friend of mine left Lin'an to return to his hometown for a long stay. I went to see him off and couldn't help feeling sorrowful."
Lost in thought, he tapped the table with his fingers and began to softly chant a poem: "Gazing sadly at the fleeting scenes of life, the mournful lingering notes of the precious se. The traveler of Chu, full of sentiment, grieves over parting; climbing the distant green mountains and waters. Watching the withered grass stretch to the horizon, hearing the sparse pounding of washing mallets in the deep night..."
He sang with deep emotion, and the melody was pleasant. Those in the hall either listened intently or hummed along, all showing appreciation. Unexpectedly, halfway through the song, Shen Han suddenly slammed the table and stood up, rebuking, "The Hall of Awaiting the Dawn is filled with hundreds of officials. Why is Vice Minister Zeng openly singing such decadent music here?"
Zeng Jie was taken aback and said, "This is a poem by Sun Zhu, a Hanlin academician from the reign of Emperor Shenzong. Its literary style is elegant and refined, and its meaning is clear and graceful, far from the ordinary flowery verses. How can it be called decadent music?"
Shen Han retorted, "The Hall of Awaiting the Dawn was originally established by our ancestors as a place for ministers to contemplate strategies for governing the country before court sessions. For the Vice Minister to chant about old sentiments here is rather inappropriate and fails to live up to the emperor's grace."
The other ministers felt he was making a fuss over nothing and tried to mediate with lighthearted remarks, but Shen Han sternly rebuked each of them. Zeng Jie then stood up, flicked his sleeve, and said, "Utter nonsense!" before leaving the hall for the adjacent room. Seeing that Zeng Jie had left, the others felt it awkward to remain and face Shen Han, so they departed one after another. In the end, only Shen Han and Zhenzhen were left in the hall.
Shen Han turned his head to the side, clearly indicating he did not wish to speak with Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen then excused herself, claiming she had other official duties to attend to, and withdrew as well.
Shen Han sat alone for a long time until his stomach suddenly growled. He then remembered that, preoccupied with the matter of offering advice that morning, he had been too distracted to eat and had skipped breakfast at home. Now, he was ravenous.
He had never eaten the food provided in the Hall of Awaiting the Dawn and did not wish to break that habit now. So, he closed his eyes, sat upright, and tried to wait for the hunger to pass. However, the sweet and fragrant aroma of the various pastries arranged in the hall wafted toward him in waves, stubbornly clinging to his senses. It stirred the rumbling in his stomach, which refused to subside, continuing to churn up and down, emitting sounds pleading for food.
Finally, he slowly opened his eyes, first ensuring no one was around, then let his gaze drift toward the food. As soon as his eyes touched the food on the table, he quickly averted them as if scalded, closing his eyes and sitting quietly again. Yet, after a moment, urged by his hunger, he couldn't resist opening his eyes a crack and peeking in that direction.
After pondering for a long while, his hand reached toward the Guanghan cake nearest to him. He took one piece, slowly brought it back, and examined it carefully.
The cake's shape was quite unique, resembling a ceremonial tablet, but he wondered how it tasted... His hand involuntarily broke off a piece of the Guanghan cake and, just as involuntarily, brought it to his mouth... He began to chew hesitantly.
The texture was soft and delicate, with the fragrance of rice carrying a hint of osmanthus. Not bad... he thought to himself, his hand moving without pause as he broke off another piece.
Zhenzhen had not gone far and had been standing outside the door, secretly observing Shen Han's actions. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but find it amusing. Intending to startle him, she deliberately coughed.Upon hearing this, Shen Han was so startled that he trembled, abruptly tossing the Guanghan cake onto the table. However, noticing that a piece was clearly missing from the cake, he grew deeply worried that Zhenzhen might see it. He immediately picked it up and stuffed it into his sleeve.
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