The duty room of the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was located in the West Courtyard of the Dali Temple. A few strands of cold daylight filtered through the window, falling upon the stacks of case files piled on the desk.
Lu Jin, dressed in a crimson official robe, held a vermilion brush as he intently reviewed the case files.
"Young Minister Lu, please have your meal."
Ming Yi gently pushed the door open, carrying a food box which he placed on the low table beside the desk, carefully lifting the lid.
Inside the box were two dishes arranged separately.
One was minced meat and eggplant strips over rice paired with a bowl of hot soup, while the other was stewed lamb with eucommia bark and goji berries.
Catching the aroma, Lu Jin looked up at the food box. "This glossy-looking rice dish—is it a new recipe Old Chen came up with?"
"Reporting to Young Minister Lu, no, it is not."
Ming Yi quickly replied, "This rice dish was made by the new kitchen servant who came to apply today. Everyone who tried it said it tastes excellent. Please, have a taste. The bowl of stewed lamb is the one made by Chen Chu, said to be for nourishing your health."
Lu Jin set down the vermilion brush, walked over to the low table, and scooped up a bite of the rice dish. The eggplant and meat were tender and soft, the savory sauce blending perfectly with the rice mixed with minced meat.
Between scoops, his pace unconsciously quickened. In just a short while, nearly half the plate of rice was gone.
"Hmm, the flavor is quite good. Keep them."
Lu Jin leisurely took a sip of the soup. "Remember to check their background thoroughly. Be careful not to let someone sneak in trying to eavesdrop on the case like last time."
"Yes."
Ming Yi promptly acknowledged.
Lu Jin’s gaze fell upon the untouched bowl of stewed lamb with eucommia bark and goji berries, then quickly lifted his eyes. "This soup looks highly nourishing. Take it down and have it yourself. You’ve been working hard these days assisting me with the investigation."
"Young Minister Lu, this…"
Ming Yi’s face showed reluctance, but meeting Lu Jin’s gaze, he swallowed the refusal on the tip of his tongue and replied with a pained expression, "Yes, I obey."
He hurriedly picked up the food box and retreated, as if fleeing from some great calamity.
How should he share this bowl of stewed lamb with eucommia bark and goji berries?
After finishing his meal, Lu Jin stood up and walked to the window. Outside, snow lay thick and white, weighing down the branches, while several red plum blossoms stood proudly, their vibrant color reflecting against the snow—a scene of pure and exquisite beauty.
He admired the red plum blossoms for a few moments, then opened the door, broke off two blooming branches, and placed them in a porcelain vase on the desk.
Meanwhile, Shen Fenghuo followed Clerk Xiao to register for employment, respectfully presenting the household register given to her by Mother Lu.
Clerk Xiao took the household register, first looking up to ask, "Have you ever committed any offenses in the past? We will verify this later. If you are someone who has engaged in wrongdoing, the Dali Temple will not employ you."
"No, no."
Shen Fenghuo replied earnestly, "I have always lived in the countryside with my foster mother, just growing vegetables and cooking. I’ve never committed any offenses."
Clerk Xiao nodded, lowered his head, and carefully opened the household register book to verify the native place.
As his eyes scanned downward, he saw clearly written—
Shen, wife of Lu Jin, husband serves as Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Clerk Xiao shook his head vigorously, thinking he had misread, and checked several times over.
No mistake—it read, "Shen, wife of Lu Jin, husband serves as Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."
He slid right off his stool.
"Young… Young Minister Lu’s wife, you’re here to work as a kitchen servant?"
"Oh dear, Clerk, please get up quickly."
Seeing Clerk Xiao fallen on the ground, Shen Fenghuo hurriedly tried to help him up, but he dodged her.
She raised her hand, pretending to wipe away tears, sighed, and said with a choked voice, "Clerk, I must ask you to keep this matter strictly confidential."
Since she was formally joining the Dali Temple, her identity would inevitably be uncovered. Shen Fenghuo thought it best to admit it upfront.
Clerk Xiao scrambled to his feet in a daze, still reeling, when he heard her continue, "Since you serve at the Dali Temple, you must know how hard my husband works. Day and night, he investigates cases and rushes about, yet when he returns, he can't even get a decent meal. This morning, seeing the dark circles under his eyes and how thin he's become—his cheekbones practically jutting out—my heart ached as if pricked by needles."
As she spoke, she tilted her face slightly and dabbed the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. "I can neither solve cases with my mind nor guard the estate with my strength. All I have is this skill for cooking. I thought to apply as a kitchen servant, so I could not only ensure my husband gets warm, tasty meals but also improve everyone's fare. Clerk, don't you think I'm right?"
Clerk Xiao nodded blankly.
Chen Chu's cooking was practically torture. Young Minister Lu had only been transferred here recently, diligent and dedicated, yet he had to endure these bizarre new dishes—truly a grievance.
But the woman before him was the young minister's wife. The thought of her cooking for them day after day in the kitchen made cold sweat break out on his back, and his limbs went weak.
Shen Fenghuo noticed his hesitation and pressed on earnestly, "Clerk, think about it. My husband often says all occupations are equal—just ways to make a living, with no distinction of high or low, noble or humble. Food is the foundation of life; everyone must eat. I'm not asking for anything else by coming here. I just want to quietly give my husband a pleasant surprise and let everyone enjoy a comforting meal."
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears. "If you reveal this and others learn I'm the young minister's wife, they'll surely feel constrained everywhere, too cautious to eat freely. What would be the point of my cooking then? Better to treat me as an ordinary kitchen maid—let everyone eat at ease, and my husband can rest assured."
Seeing Clerk Xiao moved, Shen Fenghuo took a deep breath, allowing a single tear to roll skillfully from the corner of her eye.
"My family background is clean; I've never broken any laws. The meals I make suit everyone's tastes, and I won't cause any trouble for the Dali Temple. Clerk, please take pity on my sincere devotion. Help me keep this secret, won't you?"
Clerk Xiao looked at her tear-streaked face, recalled Young Minister Lu's weary figure from days of hard work, and savored again the delicious aroma of that bowl of minced meat and eggplant strips over rice…
The young minister and his wife shared such deep affection. How could he undermine such goodwill?
And that bowl of minced meat and eggplant strips over rice…
It really was fragrant.
After hesitating a moment, he nodded firmly. "Rest assured, Madam. I will keep this strictly confidential, not breathing a word to anyone. From now on, you'll be an ordinary kitchen servant at the Dali Temple."
Shen Fenghuo nodded tearfully. "Thank you for your understanding, Clerk. You truly have a kind heart!"
Once the registration was settled, Clerk Xiao fetched a peachwood waist token engraved with the seal script characters "Shen Fenghuo" and stamped with the Dali Temple's seal.
Stepping out of the registration room, the sunlight was just right.
Shen Fenghuo held the waist token up to the light for a moment, then happily tied it around her waist.
She took a deep breath—the air after the snow was crisp and sweet, carrying the subtle fragrance of red plum blossoms.
Walking along the corridor, she saw someone carrying a food box, hurrying toward the registration room while muttering, "Brother Li, want some mutton soup? A highly nourishing broth—I don't offer it to just anyone!"
Humming a tune, Shen Fenghuo returned to the Lu Residence. Before the servants at the gate could finish reporting, she heard light, hurried footsteps coming from the direction of the front hall.
Mother Lu emerged, beaming with joy, calling out from afar, "A'He, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you half the day!"
Shen Fenghuo stepped forward to support her arm, then reached down to untie the peachwood waist token from her waist and presented it like a treasure before Mother Lu’s eyes. “Mother, look.”
Mother Lu leaned in for a closer look and exclaimed with delight, “Oh, you really got in! I was just about to ask someone to put in a word for you, but you insisted on trying on your own. My A’He truly has skill.”
She took Shen Fenghuo’s hand. “Your hands are so cold. Come inside quickly to warm up. I’ve prepared milk tea for you—a method passed down from Tubo. The taste is wonderful.”
Mother Lu loved drinking milk and also enjoyed dairy-based pastries, often sending people to Xi Shi to purchase them.
The two chatted and laughed as they entered the front hall. Inside, silver-thread charcoal burned, filling the room with warmth.
On the table was an exquisite tea set, with a maidservant busy nearby.
She crushed the roasted tea cake with a tea mortar, sifted it, and added it to a boiling clay pot.
When the tea broth first boiled, she added red dates, a small amount of pepper, and cinnamon, seasoning it with salt before scooping out a ladleful. When it boiled a second time, she poured in the old tea and quickly stirred it with a tea whisk.
The tea broth produced a fine foam froth, white as piled snow, floating on the surface. At this point, she ladled in milk skin to float on top. The aroma of tea, milk, dates, and the spiciness of the spices spread throughout the room.
The maidservant ladled the prepared milk tea into a tea bowl and handed it to Shen Fenghuo. “Young Madam, the milk tea is freshly brewed. Drink it while it’s hot.”
The milk tea first brought the creamy richness of the milk skin, like melting snow sliding over the tongue. The tea leaves were refreshing with a lingering sweetness, while the red dates added a delicate sweetness that seeped into the throat.
The salt’s savory freshness enhanced the richness of the milk, and the spiciness of the pepper and cinnamon was extremely subtle, leaving only a gentle aftertaste. The foam froth was as fine as wisps of cloud.
The entire bowl was warm but not overpowering, rich and mellow with a long-lasting flavor.
Shen Fenghuo accompanied Mother Lu in drinking the warm milk tea and sampled two pieces of jujube paste pastry, listening to her chatter about Lu Jin’s childhood antics.
She chimed in from time to time, and laughter filled the room.
As the sun began to set, Mother Lu smiled and urged, “A’He, you’re still delicate since marrying into the family. Go back to your courtyard and rest first. Later, I’ll have someone bring your favorite side dishes. Don’t sneak into the small kitchen again, or people might think our Shaoqing Mansion has no food.”
Shen Fenghuo agreed and cheerfully returned to her courtyard.
Inside the room, the warming stove burned brightly. She removed her outer robe, carefully placed two hairpins on the dressing table, washed up briefly, and lay down on the cabinet bed covered with thick bedding. She turned over, feeling completely relaxed, and soon dozed off against the pillow.
At dusk, Lu Jin entered the Lu Residence. Just as he removed his headscarf, Mother Lu called him over.
Mother Lu crossed her arms, her expression urging. “You’re newlyweds. Go and see your bride.”
Lu Jin nodded. “I will remember Mother’s advice.”
He returned to his courtyard and walked briskly toward the bridal chamber.
As the sun set, Lu Jin raised a hand to press his temple, his head swaying slightly. Just as he was about to push open the door, he abruptly withdrew his hand. His eyes darkened as he stared at the door for a moment before turning and heading to the study instead.
Night deepened, and the study grew quiet.
On the couch, Lu Jin suddenly opened his eyes, replaced by a fierce and sharp gaze. He looked at his wrist.
A pair of dark iron shackles bound him.
“Tsk.”
He scoffed softly. “What do you mean by this? Not letting me in? You seem rather strange.”
In the bridal chamber, Shen Fenghuo tossed and turned for a while. Seeing the moonlight thicken outside the window and the room still empty, she knew Lu Jin likely wouldn’t come tonight.
Was it that he disliked her, or was it truly as Wanniang had said…
Forget it, she didn't care about these things.
She simply stretched out her limbs, sprawling carelessly on the wide cabinet bed, arms spread and legs extended.
Such a large bed, big enough for her to roll over twice.
Tomorrow she would start her duty at the Dali Temple.
She could do what she liked and even get paid for it.
So exciting.
Author's Note:
A'He: Starting the new job!
(Note: Milk tea existed as early as the Tang Dynasty, mostly savory with various spices. The preparation method references works like The Classic of Tea. Milk skin can be understood as a type of milk skin or milk foam.)