The Emperor discussed Zhenzhen's suggestion with Ji Jinglan, who also felt it could be implemented for a few months to observe its effects. After discussing with the Ministry of State Finance, they revised some details regarding implementation, but the mutual auditing among the Imperial Kitchen, the Hanlin Office, and the Yiluan Office remained unchanged. These three offices were ordered to resubmit the budget for the investiture ceremony, which would be reviewed according to the new regulations.
This time, the submitted budget showed a sharp reduction. Naturally, the inflated amounts were gone, and some of the previously expensive expenditures were either cut or replaced with more affordable alternatives. After reviewing it, the Emperor frowned and questioned, "Isn't this overcorrecting?" Consort Li, however, showed no resentment. She bowed slightly and said, "This year, many prefectures and counties have suffered disasters, and numerous subjects are displaced, struggling even for basic sustenance. How could I feel at ease spending a fortune on an investiture ceremony? I only hope for simplicity in all matters, and the sharp reduction in the budget aligns perfectly with my wishes."
Not only that, but she also carefully examined each expense, personally taking up a brush to delete items she deemed too costly. After finishing, she asked Zhenzhen to review it and said to her, "Please help me think of any other areas where we can make cuts."
Zhenzhen knew she was not being pretentious and genuinely wanted to save resources, so she carefully reviewed the budget again and suggested, "The budget for the banquet's display platters is still quite substantial. For state banquets, display platters often use delicacies like marrow cakes, ring cakes, Hu-style cakes, and date cakes, or cooked dishes such as rabbit, lamb, chicken, and goose, piled high like mountains and placed among the seats as decorations. However, it is considered impolite for guests to eat from these display platters, so they are never touched. The sheer quantity of display platters incurs significant costs and requires considerable labor to prepare. Yet, they are removed before the main dishes are served, and most end up being discarded, resulting in tremendous waste. Therefore, this item could be greatly reduced."
Consort Li agreed with Zhenzhen's reasoning, but the Emperor hesitated, saying, "Although display platters are not meant for consumption, they showcase the grandeur of the banquet. If we drastically reduce them, it would appear too petty and fail to reflect the solemnity of the investiture ceremony banquet."
"There is a way," Zhenzhen said. "When I was learning culinary arts from the Court Gentleman for Manifesting Righteousness on Wuyi Mountain, I saw him use pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, and citrus fruits to create display platters for the New Year's family banquet. He arranged them like floral arrangements, with sizes ranging from small ones placed on tables to large ones made by piecing together pine branches into ancient trees adorned with flowers and fruits, which could stand in the courtyard, creating a grand spectacle. The imperial gardens have abundant plants and flowers; with a little pruning, they could be used for the banquet. After the banquet, the display platters could be gifted to various pavilions as decorations for reuse, thus avoiding waste."
Consort Li imagined the scene Zhenzhen described and smiled. "Pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms are elegant and carry auspicious meanings. Adding golden citrus fruits would further symbolize abundance. With such display platters, the banquet would also appear more refined."
The Emperor laughed and said, "That sounds excellent. However, the banquet requires many display platters. To do this, we would inevitably trouble the Court Gentleman for Manifesting Righteousness, and he would be overworked."
Zhenzhen thought for a moment and said, "We could ask the Court Gentleman for Manifesting Righteousness to design a few such display platters and then teach the craftsmen from the Hanlin Office. They could handle the small and medium-sized display platters for the banquet. However, the ancient pine tree for the courtyard is quite challenging and would require the Court Gentleman for Manifesting Righteousness to personally oversee it."
The Emperor found this feasible and ordered Zhenzhen to leave the palace the next day to find Lin Hong and discuss the matter with him. He also instructed Shi Huaien to escort her along the way with two eunuchs.
The residence the Emperor bestowed upon Lin Hong was unique—not an official residence near the palace but located on Phoenix Mountain in the northwest. It was said to be an elegant courtyard halfway up the mountain. The Emperor explained that he knew Lin Hong preferred tranquility, and that place should suit him well.The next day, Zhenzhen rode in an oxcart, escorted by Shi Huaien and others to Lin Hong's residence. A eunuch drove the cart for Zhenzhen, while Shi Huaien and another man each rode a horse, one in front and one behind the cart. Early that morning, heavy rain had fallen, making the mountain road slippery. From time to time, rainwater collected on the leaves above would drip down, striking the roof of the carriage. As they passed by a hillside, Zhenzhen suddenly heard the crackling sound of vines breaking from above. Lifting the curtain to look, she saw a massive round boulder rolling down from the mountaintop, hurtling straight toward the carriage.
Without a second thought, Zhenzhen kicked open the carriage door and leaped out. As the oxcart was still moving, her left foot twisted upon landing, causing her to fall to the ground. Not daring to linger, she scrambled forward a few steps. Almost immediately, a deafening crash echoed behind her—the rolling boulder had smashed the carriage to pieces, and even the ox was struck in its hind leg, collapsing to the ground.
Shi Huaien and the two eunuchs were unharmed, but they were so startled by the sudden turn of events that their faces turned pale. For a moment, they could only rein in their horses, unsure how to respond. Before Zhenzhen could get up, she heard the rapid sound of hoofbeats approaching from behind. Turning her head, she saw a large, riderless horse galloping straight toward her. In an instant, it was almost upon her, about to trample her.
Shi Huaien and the others had not yet recovered from the shock of the rolling boulder, and the horse was moving too fast for them to rescue Zhenzhen. With no time to dodge, Zhenzhen could only close her eyes in despair, helplessly awaiting the impact.
Just as she shut her eyes, a falcon suddenly swooped down, pecking at the horse's eye. Startled by the sudden attack on one eye, the horse reared up, neighing loudly. The falcon persisted, continuing to peck at the horse's head. The horse's cries grew more frantic until it suddenly turned and galloped back the way it had come. The falcon was about to give chase when a whistle sounded from ahead on the road. Hearing it, the falcon turned and flew toward the source of the sound.
Seeing this, Shi Huaien let out a long sigh of relief and immediately dismounted to help Zhenzhen up.
Ahead, a group of riders approached slowly on horseback. Zhenzhen recognized the leader as Crown Prince Zhao Xi, followed by over thirty eunuchs and Imperial Guards. Beside and slightly behind him was a man around forty to fifty years old, dressed in loose, luxurious robes, with a patterned turban wrapped around his head, a prominent nose, and deep-set eyes. This man was rather stout, dressed opulently, and accompanied by more than ten attendants. From his appearance and attire, he was clearly not from the Central Plains. The falcon that had just intervened now perched on his shoulder, evidently trained by him.
Zhenzhen bowed to the Crown Prince, thanking him for the timely rescue. The Crown Prince gestured toward the man beside him and said to Zhenzhen with a smile, "The one who saved you was actually this Chengxinlang."
Zhenzhen had also heard the Emperor mention Chengxinlang Pu Luxin—a wealthy merchant from the Arab world. Over twenty years ago, he had sailed from Arabia to Quanzhou with a cargo of aromatic medicines. The taxes collected by the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office on just one shipment of frankincense alone amounted to three hundred thousand strings of coins. For this reason, the late emperor had granted him the ninth-rank official title of "Chengxinlang."
"The Crown Prince explained, "When Chengxinlang came to the capital to pay homage to the late emperor, it was the then-prince, now the Emperor, who received him. This time, upon his arrival from Quanzhou, the Emperor instructed me to host him. I was escorting him to the post station when we passed by this area and suddenly saw a runaway horse about to trample someone. Chengxinlang then commanded his falcon to intervene. Little did we expect that the person saved would be Chief Steward Wu."Zhenzhen immediately bowed to Pu Luxin to express her gratitude. Having lived in Quanzhou for many years, Pu Luxin spoke fluent Chinese. After returning the courtesy, he smiled and said to Zhenzhen, "No need to be so polite. It was just a small effort, a small effort."
The Crown Prince asked Zhenzhen about the purpose of her trip. Zhenzhen informed him that The Emperor wanted Lin Hong to design a presentation tray. The Crown Prince then inquired in detail about the incident where falling rocks had smashed the oxcart. After a moment of thought, he said, "It rained early in the morning, so the falling rocks could be attributed to a landslide. However, the galloping horse had a saddle and bridle, clearly not a wild horse, and it charged right after the rocks fell. It’s hard to say it wasn’t deliberately arranged. For safety’s sake, why don’t I escort you to Xuan Yilang’s residence?"
Zhenzhen expressed concern about inconveniencing Cheng Xinlang’s journey. Pu Luxin laughed and said, "No trouble at all. It’s been a long time since I last visited Lin’an, and I’d like to take a stroll around. I’ll go with you."
Thus, the group headed to Lin Hong’s residence. Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, to avoid disturbing Lin Hong too much, the Crown Prince ordered most of his attendants to wait at a nearby tavern. He then led Zhenzhen, Pu Luxin, Shi Huaien, and two or three close attendants up the mountain.
Lin Hong’s mountain courtyard had a style similar to the Woodcutter Inquiry Post, surrounded by bamboo and plum trees, where one could listen to the pine winds from the secluded valley. It was slightly smaller, lacking a pond or cranes, but there was a mountain spring in the courtyard. The spring water flowed from cracks in the rocks, and Lin Hong had split bamboo to channel it, building a small stone pool. The gentle trickling of the spring water added a touch of charm.
Lin Hong had enjoyed a pleasant conversation with the Crown Prince during their last meeting at the Gathering Scenery Garden and was delighted to see him again. After Zhenzhen explained the matter of the presentation tray, Lin Hong agreed to take on the task. Noticing that it was nearly noon, he invited everyone to stay for a meal.
The main dish served was "Mountain-Stewed Lamb," a clear stew of lamb with scallions and Sichuan peppercorns. Though it appeared ordinary, everyone found the lamb exceptionally tender and fragrant upon tasting it, with even the bones soft and succulent. The Crown Prince praised its texture and asked Lin Hong how it was prepared. Lin Hong replied, "Crush a few real almonds and add them to the clay pot. Cook over a lively flame, and the lamb will become tender easily."
Additionally, Lin Hong simmered lamb broth with slices of Chinese yam and sweet chestnuts, calling it "Gold and Jade Soup," as the yam resembled jade and the chestnuts gold. "Chinese yam nourishes the spleen, stomach, and lungs, while sweet chestnuts strengthen the kidneys and muscles. As the weather grows colder, lamb and its broth can ward off wind and cold, making this soup particularly suitable," Lin Hong explained.
Everyone praised the soup for its excellent color and flavor, as well as its health benefits. However, Pu Luxin stared at the bowl of soup before him for a long while before suddenly asking Lin Hong, "Xuan Yilang, who taught you how to make this soup?"
Lin Hong answered, "My father casually noted it down many years ago, tucked it into a book, and I discovered it by chance a few years ago among the books he left behind."
"What a coincidence," Pu Luxin said with a smile. "Over twenty years ago, when I came to Lin’an, The Emperor was still a prince. We hit it off immediately and often went hunting together. One day, he took me to a mountain courtyard to meet two of his friends—one was a royal physician, and the other was a very handsome scholar..." At this point, he scrutinized Lin Hong carefully and added with a smile, "His demeanor and bearing bore some resemblance to Xuan Yilang... That day, the physician’s wife cooked for us, and among the dishes was this Gold and Jade Soup. The scholar liked it very much and inquired about the recipe in detail. What the physician’s wife said was exactly the same as what Xuan Yilang just described."
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince looked at Lin Hong with a smile and said, "Since that scholar resembled Xuan Yilang, and Xuan Yilang mentioned that the recipe for Gold and Jade Soup was recorded by your father, could it be that the scholar Cheng Xinlang met back then was actually your father?"Lin Hong forced a smile and bowed slightly. "My father was not blessed with such fortune to have the honor of being a friend to His Majesty... Moreover, my father did not know any imperial physicians."
With that, he reached for the wine jug on his table, his face still wearing a faint smile, but Zhenzhen noticed that his hand trembled slightly as he grasped it.
Lin Hong lifted the wine jug and found it nearly empty, so he instructed A Che to fetch more wine. However, Pu Luxin interjected, "I have brought several varieties of wine with me this time, each with a distinct flavor different from the fine wines of the Great Song. This is an excellent opportunity to invite everyone to taste them."
He promptly ordered his attendant to retrieve the wines. Moments later, the attendant returned with them, and Pu Luxin personally took them, handing them to Lin Hong one by one, explaining each: "This wine is made from grape juice, its color like gemstones, with a delightful fruity aroma. It is mild and sweet on the palate, though it can easily intoxicate if consumed excessively... This is 'Sisu wine,' brewed from sugar-boiled aromatic herbs. It is richly fragrant but quite potent... This wine, made from honey and aromatic herbs, is called 'Meisidahua wine.' It is sweeter and more fragrant than Sisu wine, perfect for warming the body in autumn and winter. It is also less strong, with a smooth and mellow taste."
Lin Hong carefully noted each description and then inquired one by one about the preferences of the Crown Prince, Pu Luxin, Shi Huaien, and others, instructing A Che to pour for them accordingly. Only Zhenzhen he did not ask; instead, he directly signaled A Che to pour her a cup of Meisidahua wine.
The Crown Prince noticed this distinction and couldn't help but smile as he asked Lin Hong, "Is Court Gentleman for Court Service acquainted with Chief Steward Wu?"
Zhenzhen was momentarily taken aback, only then recalling that she had only disclosed her master-disciple relationship with Lin Hong to the Emperor and Consort Li. The Crown Prince likely remained unaware. Moreover, when the Emperor had previously sent her out of the palace to find Lin Hong, the true purpose had been kept secret to avoid palace gossip. Officially, she had been dispatched to search for rare ingredients, so the Crown Prince was also unaware of this matter.
While Lin Hong was still considering how to respond, Shi Huaien suddenly spoke up on his behalf, answering, "Court Gentleman for Court Service and Chief Steward Wu share a bond over the 'broken jade chimes,' so they may be considered acquainted."
Zhenzhen's hand, holding the Meisidahua wine, trembled, nearly causing the cup to slip from her grasp. Even before taking a sip, her cheeks flushed as if already intoxicated. Lin Hong also turned to look at Shi Huaien, his eyes widening noticeably, clearly quite astonished.
Both of them were thinking at that moment: How did he know?
Shi Huaien then rose and bowed to the Crown Prince, explaining softly, "Last time at the Gathering Scenery Garden, Court Gentleman for Court Service suggested hanging broken jade chimes in the garden outside the Empress Dowager's chambers. Chief Steward Wu expressed reservations, and the two exchanged a few words. Your Highness was also present at the time—perhaps you recall this incident?"
The Crown Prince immediately laughed. "I remember, I remember. So that's how it is."
Zhenzhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Shi Huaien had kindly covered for them, preventing the Crown Prince from probing further into her private interactions with Lin Hong.
Glancing at Lin Hong, she saw that he too appeared relieved. When their eyes met briefly, a faint layer of amusement shimmered in his gaze.
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