During the midday banquet, Zhenzhen attended to the Emperor as usual, tasting the dishes before him. Several of the main courses were prepared personally by Consort Liu. Zhenzhen noticed that among them were the Mountain and Sea Pouch and Lotus Pod Fish Parcel. Their shapes, ingredients, and flavors were exactly the same as those Lin Hong had made at the Woodcutter Inquiry Post. She felt a flicker of doubt, but then remembered they were siblings. It was likely that Lin Hong’s culinary skills had been guided by Consort Liu, so it was no surprise they could make identical dishes.
Throughout the banquet, the Emperor frequently raised his cup to toast Lin Hong, chatting with him about Consort Liu’s family affairs. Gradually, Zhenzhen learned that Consort Liu’s mother and Lin Hong’s father were cousins. Consort Liu had been orphaned as a child, with no relatives to rely on. Hearing that Lin Hong’s father served as an official in the court, her wet nurse, Madam Yu, took her to Lin’an to seek refuge with the Lin family. Upon arriving in Lin’an, they discovered that Lin Hong’s father had been framed by the faction of Grand Tutor Qi after speaking out against him and had long since died unjustly in prison. Lin Hong’s mother had already taken him back to her maternal home in Wuyi Mountain. Madam Yu then brought Consort Liu to Wuyi Mountain. Not long after, Lin Hong’s mother passed away from illness, leaving the two orphans to depend on each other. Consort Liu was three years older than Lin Hong and, like an elder sister and mother, took meticulous care of him until she was selected to enter the palace at the age of eighteen.
“When I was at home, Ning Ge’er was still a slender little child. After so many years apart, I never imagined he would grow so tall,” Consort Liu remarked, gazing at Lin Hong with emotion. After studying him for a moment, she added with a smile, “Though he is still thin.”
Zhenzhen thought to herself, so Teacher Lin’s childhood name was “Ning Ge’er.” She had never heard anyone mention it before. The Emperor also noticed this and asked Consort Liu, “Does the Court Gentleman for Manifesting Righteousness have the childhood name ‘Ning Ge’er’?”
Consort Liu replied, “His original name was Hong Ning, and his family called him Ning Ge’er. Later, for some reason, he changed his name himself, removing the ‘Ning.’ From the year he took the imperial examination, his formal name became Lin Hong.”
Hearing this, Lin Hong smiled faintly and said, “Lin Hong Ning—it was rather awkward to pronounce, after all.”
After the meal, Lin Hong waited a moment before bowing slightly to the Emperor and saying, “Su Dongpo’s poem says, ‘After a meal, the taste of tea deepens.’ I have brought some new tea from Wuyi Mountain. If Your Majesty does not disdain it, I would like to brew tea for you and Consort Liu to taste.”
The Emperor naturally granted permission. Consort Liu then ordered the tea service to be set up, bringing out the tea grinder, tea whisk, and other utensils. However, Lin Hong said they were unnecessary. He only took a small pot for boiling water, filled it with mountain spring water, and added an appropriate amount of tea leaves from a small silver jar he had brought. He placed the pot on the tea stove and brewed it over a lively flame.
“This is this year’s spring tea from Wuyi Mountain. I picked and roasted it myself, using only the new buds. Brewing it with fresh water and a lively flame best brings out its medicinal properties, benefiting both body and mind,” Lin Hong explained.
When the tea began to boil, the sound from the pot was like wind rustling through a pine forest. Lin Hong lifted the pot from the fire, placed it on a tea cloth on the table for a moment, then poured the tea into cups, offering them first to the Emperor and Consort Liu. He did not forget to pour a cup for Zhenzhen, bowing respectfully as he presented it. “Please taste it first, Chief Steward Wu.”
His manners were impeccable, and he had not neglected any courtesy in her presence today.
Zhenzhen rose to return the courtesy, then sat down to taste the tea. She found the tea clear and refreshing, warm and smooth on the palate, with a lingering fragrance. She bowed slightly to the Emperor with a smile and a nod. The Emperor then raised his cup to savor it carefully and remarked after a moment, “In the palace, we often grind tea cakes for whisked tea. Occasionally, we brew tea with salt and tea fruits, but none compare to the pure sweetness of this tea.”
Lin Hong said, “Adding salt or fruits to tea greatly diminishes its true flavor. Whisked tea is strong in taste and cold in nature, and drinking too much can harm the spleen and stomach. Brewing tea leaves results in a milder tea soup, which is more beneficial for health.”The Emperor smiled and said, "Before Zhao Huaiyu left the capital, I held a farewell banquet for him. Listening to him speak about the art of cuisine, I found his insights quite reasonable. He mentioned that he had received instruction from you and learned to prepare several exquisite dishes. Now it seems you are indeed a master of this craft."
Before Lin Hong could respond, Consort Liu widened her phoenix-like eyes and looked at him in surprise. "Ning Ge'er, when did you learn to cook?"
Lin Hong merely offered a polite smile, lowering his head without speaking.
Consort Liu then turned to the Emperor and said, "This brother of mine used to know nothing but studying. All household matters were handled by me. I cooked for him every day, and he often followed me around watching, but he never once offered to help."
Her tone carried a hint of coquettish complaint, and she even forgot to refer to herself as "your humble servant" before the Emperor. However, her glance toward Lin Hong was filled with amusement.
The Emperor patted her outstretched hand and smiled. "A gentleman stays away from the kitchen. He is a scholar, and you are his elder sister. It was only natural for you to cook for him, and his reluctance to assist is hardly blameworthy. Presumably, after you entered the palace, no one could replicate your culinary delights, so he had no choice but to learn for himself."
Consort Liu laughed. "Your Majesty speaks wisely."
Lin Hong also wore a faint smile, but his eyes remained downcast. Zhenzhen observed him closely and noticed that beneath his lowered lashes, there was no trace of joy in his gaze.
The Emperor expressed hope that he would have the opportunity to taste Lin Hong's cooking in the future. Consort Liu then smiled and said, "There's no need to wait for another day. Ning Ge'er can prepare a delicacy to accompany tea for Your Majesty today."
The Emperor asked curiously, "What is it?"
Consort Liu replied, "The dish is called 'Silver Thread Offering.'" She then turned to Lin Hong and instructed, "Be sure to balance the flavors well, yet retain the true essence."
Lin Hong understood her meaning and nodded in acknowledgment.
Consort Liu whispered an order to a palace attendant beside her. The attendant obeyed and left, returning shortly from an inner chamber with a zither. After setting it up, she invited Lin Hong to play.
Lin Hong sat down and calmly adjusted the strings. Soon, an ethereal melody reminiscent of phoenix cries and crane calls flowed from his fingertips. As he played, he softly chanted, "At dawn, I drink the dew that drips from magnolia leaves; at dusk, I dine on fallen petals of autumn chrysanthemums. If my heart remains pure and steadfast, what does it matter if my face grows thin and pale?"
When the piece concluded, the Emperor applauded in admiration. "Dongpo Jushi once said, 'Within zither and books lies true flavor.' Today, listening to you play the zither and chant 'Li Sao,' I finally understand the depth of this sentiment. This 'Silver Thread Offering' is exquisite in flavor—marvelous, truly marvelous!"
The three continued to savor tea and converse. After a while, noticing the late hour, the Emperor allowed Lin Hong to return to his residence outside the palace. Glancing around, he finally said to Zhenzhen, "I will remain at Furong Pavilion today. There is no need for you to attend further. Return early to the Bureau of Palace Provisions and, on your way, escort the Court Gentleman for Court Service to the palace gate. The Lin'an palace grounds are not as flat as those in Bianjing; the mountain paths are winding. Make sure he does not lose his way."
Zhenzhen agreed. Lin Hong bowed in farewell and followed Zhenzhen out. Consort Liu rose to see them off. Once they had left the main hall, she called to Lin Hong, saying, "The garden of Furong Pavilion was built according to my preferences. Come and take a look. If there is anything unsatisfactory, it can still be modified."
She guided Lin Hong to the railing of the terrace, a distance of several yards from Zhenzhen and the other attendants and palace maids. Smiling as she gazed at the garden below, she changed the subject: "Have the past few years been difficult? Why do you look so weary?"
Lin Hong bowed slightly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Consort. Hong has been working on drawings late into the night recently, which may have affected his complexion, but he has not neglected his meals and is otherwise well. However, in your letters, you mentioned that your health has not been optimal since childbirth. I wonder if you are feeling better now?"Consort Liu said, "I'm fine, I recovered long ago." Seeing Lin Hong frown slightly as he looked at her, as if he didn't believe her, she smiled, "If I hadn't said that, would you have come?"
Lin Hong fell silent, quietly taking a step back, lowering his gaze as he stood there. After a moment, he finally said, "Since Consort is well, this humble brother can rest at ease."
Consort Liu let out a soft sigh. "Back at home, you never liked calling me sister, always addressing me by name without regard for seniority. It used to annoy me a little. But now, hearing you call me 'Consort' over and over feels strange, as if you're addressing someone else—so distant."
Seeing him remain silent, she turned her head toward him with a gentle smile. "In public, you may address me as Consort, but when we're alone, there's no need to be so formal. You can still call me sister... Or if you're more accustomed to using my name, that's fine too."
But Lin Hong shook his head. "There won't be a 'later.'"
Consort Liu was puzzled, frowning as she looked at him.
Lin Hong remained silent for a while before finally deciding to tell her. "After you left, I began to cook. Relying on memory, I tried to recreate every dish you ever made for me. I experimented countless times, trying to capture the taste of your cooking. But no matter what I did, it never felt the same—never as delicious as it was back then. I had San Niang and A Che taste it, asking them to help me remember what was missing. They said my cooking was excellent, just as delicious as yours. Yet I could never recapture that old flavor... Later, I cooked many more dishes and met many people. Gradually, I understood: my cooking wasn't lacking compared to yours. It wasn't about the seasoning, the ingredients, or my skill. The reason it didn't taste good to me, the reason something felt missing, was simply because you were no longer by my side."
Consort Liu was utterly astonished, gazing at Lin Hong, her voice trembling as she called out, "Hong Ning..."
"I am Lin Hong now, not Hong Ning," Lin Hong calmly corrected. Then, looking at her, he spoke each word deliberately. "Since you left, how could there be peace?"
Consort Liu composed herself, resuming her dignified posture as she turned slightly to gaze at the garden. Only then did she ask softly, "Why are you telling me all this now?"
"I am returning home," Lin Hong said. "The capital is no place for me to stay long. Now that you are safe, I can return to my hometown with peace of mind. Soon, I will submit my resignation to The Emperor, asking him to allow me to return to my homeland... For the rest of our lives, we may never meet again."
He solemnly adjusted his robes and cap, offering her a deep, formal bow. Before turning to leave, he smiled at her and whispered, "Take care, Luo Wei."
Luo Shen—she was Luo Shen.
Standing in the distance, Zhenzhen suddenly realized this.
Watching the two converse from afar, though she couldn't hear their words, she sensed from their polite gestures an indescribable understanding and intimacy flowing between them.
No wonder, she thought with a pang of jealousy, she had always felt that Consort Liu's affectionate phoenix eyes seemed familiar. So she was the woman in the painting Lin Hong gazed upon day and night...Zhenzhen led Lin Hong down the mountain and entered the Brocade Rouge Corridor. Walking one behind the other, separated by about five feet, they headed toward the palace gate. Along the way, she couldn’t help but dwell on matters related to "Luo Shen": No wonder Lin Hong had no interest in an official career, repeatedly ignoring the Emperor’s summons, yet rushing over as soon as he received a letter from her... No wonder he understood she wanted him to play the qin as soon as she mentioned the Silver Thread Offering—their hearts were so in tune... No wonder Lin Hong was so furious when he saw her offering pork to Luo Shen. Indeed, his "Luo Shen" would retch at the sight of pork. No wonder!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Fury crept uncontrollably into the corners of her eyes and brows, and she unconsciously quickened her pace, charging ahead alone with a cold expression.
Lin Hong didn’t understand why she was displeased. Seeing her unusual demeanor, he had no desire to engage in conversation either. When they reached the midpoint exit of the Brocade Rouge Corridor, he stopped, bowed to Zhenzhen, and still spoke politely: "The palace gate’s upturned eaves are already visible ahead. Please, Chief Steward Wu, there’s no need to accompany me further. I can proceed on my own. Thank you for seeing me off today. You’ve worked hard."
Chief Steward Wu? This form of address only stoked Zhenzhen’s inexplicable anger. She abruptly turned, grabbed Lin Hong’s sleeve with one hand, and pulled him out of the Brocade Rouge Corridor exit, rushing toward a distant grove beside the corridor.
Taken by surprise, Lin Hong had no time to react and allowed her to lead him, parting flowers and brushing past willows, crossing several streams and pavilions, bathed in dappled sunlight all the way, until they reached a deep, secluded spot beneath a canopy of locust blossoms as thick as clouds.
Zhenzhen stopped, released his sleeve, and stood facing him, staring coldly.
Lin Hong didn’t know what she intended and couldn’t help but retreat a few steps, but Zhenzhen pressed forward step by step until his back touched a locust tree, leaving him with no escape.
Zhenzhen continued advancing until she was only half a foot away from him.
She looked directly at him and asked, "Who am I?"
Lin Hong lowered his gaze to her and calmly replied, "Chief Steward Wu."
Zhenzhen suddenly grasped his wrists, which hung at his sides, tilted her head up, rose on her toes, and lightly pecked his lips in a flash. Then she paused, watching as, after a moment of stunned silence, his ears flushed red under her gaze and his breathing gradually quickened. She couldn’t help but sneer inwardly: Let’s see if you can remain composed now! Let’s see if you can stay calm!
"Who am I?" she asked again.
A thin layer of sweat beaded on Lin Hong’s forehead, and from his slightly trembling lips emerged this answer: "Zhenzhen..."
His voice was soft and low, even carrying a hint of weakness. Zhenzhen looked at her own reflection in the depths of his eyes and smiled with satisfaction. She released his wrists, took two steps back, gave him a deep look, then turned to leave. Unexpectedly, after taking just one step, her right hand was suddenly seized by Lin Hong from behind, and he pulled her back forcefully.
Lin Hong turned her to face him, holding her wrists just as she had held his moments before. After a moment, he loosened his fingers slightly but didn’t let go. His palm brushed over the back of her hand, then quietly turned, aligning with her palm, their fingers intertwining.
They stood silently like this, the warmth from his palm continuously flowing into hers. This time, it was Zhenzhen whose breathing quickened, and she shamefully heard the pounding of her own heart.
His gaze, fixed on her, was as dark and deep as a pool, with occasional glimmers of light flickering like ripples across water—whether stirred by the wind or by the heart, it was hard to tell.
This hidden moment seemed to stretch for centuries. The two of them seemed frozen in the flower-shaded grove, motionless, letting the sparse, wandering whispers of the wind slip past their ears like fish flicking their tails, letting the locust blossoms rustle down, gently tapping their brows and temples.For a long while, he gently flexed his fingers, holding her hand a little tighter, then slowly lowered his head toward her.
Zhenzhen felt his soft breath brush against her forehead like a feather, making her even more nervous and causing her heart to race. Yet, a thread of anticipation deep within finally guided her, and she involuntarily lifted her head.
She closed her eyes, a faint, elusive smile at the corners of her lips indicating she would not resist any possible boldness from him.
But there was none.
He merely leaned in and plucked a locust blossom that had fallen onto her forehead.
Feeling him move away, Zhenzhen opened her eyes to see him holding the locust blossom in his mouth, smiling as he observed her expression.
Remembering her earlier anticipation, Zhenzhen instantly flushed with embarrassment, wishing she could vanish on the spot.
Lin Hong tucked the locust blossom into his mouth, released Zhenzhen’s hands, and spoke to her gently, as if nothing had happened. "Alright, you may go now."
Zhenzhen stamped her foot in frustration, then turned and ran away.
Lin Hong watched her go with a smile, only to see her soon lift her skirt and come running back.
"You should still come with me," she said, her face flushed as she avoided his gaze, looking down at the scattered petals and leaves on the ground. "I’m afraid you might get lost."
He shook his head and murmured softly, "With you here, I would be the one to lose my way."
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