Clutching the imperial edict in her hand, Jiang Ning leaned against the carriage wall, thinking about the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old she was about to meet—Ji Ke.
In Jiang Ning’s mind, this Nine-Thousand-Year-Old was a major client—wealthy, powerful, providing food and lodging, and likely paying a handsome commission. The only question was whether he would be the difficult type of client.
In Jiang Shiyu’s memories, the information related to this Nine-Thousand-Year-Old was basic, the kind known to everyone under heaven.
Five years ago, the emperor fell seriously ill. Knowing he might not survive the winter, he issued an imperial decree.
If he were to pass away, Consort Xuan’s son, Wang Zhao, would be named crown prince, with Chief Steward Ji Ke assisting him in ascending the throne. Once Wang Zhao was capable of governing independently, Ji Ke would return full authority to him.
This shocked the entire court at the time. Not only was the future emperor entrusted to a eunuch, but there was also the expectation that he would relinquish power to a young crown prince—it seemed like a fool’s dream, utterly absurd.
But the decree had been issued, and not long after, the emperor passed away. No matter how much the ministers opposed, it was futile. They could only help the crown prince keep an eye on Ji Ke, and so they watched him for five years.
Over those five years, the Yong Dynasty was governed in an orderly manner, with peace and prosperity for the people. Ji Ke never overstepped his bounds, and the voices of opposition gradually faded.
Yet, in the eyes of the people, Ji Ke’s image remained ruthless and stern. If there were a ranking of villains in the Yong Dynasty, he would undoubtedly be voted number one.
Jiang Shiyu had never seen him, so Jiang Ning had no idea what he looked like. But based on this impression, she guessed he was likely a sinister and sharp person.
But what would a sinister and sharp person like to eat?
Jiang Ning summoned the System again to see what ingredients were available, planning the dishes in advance so she wouldn’t be flustered later.
Most of the ingredients on the panel were grayed out, with only a few brightly colored. A sense of foreboding suddenly washed over her.
【In the early stages of the System, only some free ingredients are available. The host will need to unlock the rest.】
“…How do I unlock them?”
She had no money. If it required spending, she’d rather not. The Duzhu Residence’s kitchen should have plenty of supplies.
【Host, don’t misunderstand. It doesn’t cost money—just stamp a seal to unlock them.】
“What kind of seal?”
【The Imperial Seal.】
Jiang Ning closed the System without hesitation, turning her thoughts to appetizers. It was summer, so there should still be peaches. She could make a dessert.
【Host, don’t give up! You’re about to enter the palace—there will be plenty of opportunities. Don’t abandon this!】
Jiang Ning ignored it. That was the Imperial Seal, not a radish-carved stamp. It wasn’t something she could just touch whenever she wanted.
【Host, there are unlocked ingredients available. Look at me!】
Jiang Ning glanced at the panel with slight disdain, but as she looked, her expression grew more serious.
The lit icons were mostly basic ingredients like wheat flour and butter. Individually, they seemed useless, but combined, they could make many things.
Moreover, these were the raw materials she currently lacked.
Even if she couldn’t unlock the rest later, she could still use these. Since they were offered, there was no reason to refuse.
Halfway through the journey, the carriage suddenly changed direction, turning back toward the palace.
“What’s going on?” Jiang Ning lifted the curtain and asked.
“The Duzhu is currently at the palace. He wants us to meet him there.”
The Duzhu Residence was only two streets away from the palace gates, and they arrived quickly. After the city patrol explained the situation to the guards, the guards turned to look at her, their eyes filled with curiosity and surprise.
Pausing for a moment at her disheveled appearance, they exchanged a few words with the city patrol before walking toward her.
“Routine inspection.”
The palace maid standing at the palace gate stepped forward to search her, then nodded, and only then did the guards allow her to pass.
This maid wore a light green ruqun, her hair styled in double-horn buns tied with two long silk ribbons. She appeared quite young but diligently led the way ahead, refraining from any mocking remarks despite Jiang Ning’s disheveled state.
“The palace grounds are vast, so you must be weary.”
Even her polite remarks were so proper and mature, neither subservient nor arrogant.
The kind of superior one has shapes the kind of subordinates they lead. Jiang Ning grew even more curious about that Superintendent.
Although it had just rained earlier, bringing a slight chill, the sun was now out, relentlessly baking those below.
As the weather grew increasingly hot, even though the two of them walked along the shaded paths, a thin layer of sweat still formed. After following the young maid named A Tao through numerous twists and turns, a cool breeze suddenly brushed against her face.
Jiang Ning looked up and saw a waterside pavilion standing over a pond. It appeared serene and simple, devoid of any extravagance.
“Miss, this way.”
Following A Tao onto the winding corridor, she immediately felt both body and mind cool down considerably.
Sensing someone’s approach, the mottled carp swimming in the pond gathered around, adding a touch of liveliness to the tranquil atmosphere.
Several eunuchs stood in front of the waterside pavilion. With composed expressions and lowered eyes, they opened the door to the pavilion as Jiang Ning and A Tao approached.
As soon as the door opened, a refreshing aroma of tea wafted out.
In the center of the pavilion stood a desk piled with memorials. Behind it, a man in gray robes was sipping tea, while beside him sat a young boy whose head was barely visible—likely the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old Ji Ke and the young Crown Prince.
“There are matters at hand, so I won’t question you for now.”
Ji Ke set down his teacup and glanced over.
His lips were like pearls, his eyes as dark as lacquer. Half of his black hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, while the rest cascaded down his back. His entire being exuded an air of purity—his demeanor less like that of a eunuch and more akin to a nobleman from a distinguished family.
His gaze was calm, yet that single glance carried immense pressure, compelling one to straighten their back and listen attentively.
“Go and do it.”
Even with Jiang Ning’s wandering thoughts, it took her a moment to understand his meaning. She nodded blankly and followed a nearby eunuch outside.
As she left, she heard his slightly cool voice.
“What does it matter what others wear? Focus on the matters in the memorials.”
They walked to a small palace opposite the waterside pavilion. To its side was a small kitchen. The eunuch pushed open the wooden door and stood outside, quite considerately.
“Miss, please proceed. Call for me if you need anything.”
“Thank you.”
Jiang Ning surveyed her surroundings. The small kitchen was mostly stocked with vegetables and fruits, indicating that the occupant of this room preferred light meals.
She looked at the System Panel, excitedly rubbing her fingers together.
“How do I get them?”
[Click and drag the icons to obtain them. Each unlocked item can be supplied indefinitely—a must-have for any household!]
Jiang Ning tried dragging out glutinous rice flour, and a bowl of fine, snow-white glutinous rice flour indeed appeared on the cutting board, emitting a faint, fresh fragrance.
Was this the joy of reaping benefits?!
Without hesitation, Jiang Ning dragged out the other ingredients: cornstarch, butter, and some granulated sugar.
Glancing at the several thin-skinned peaches placed on the stove, she pondered for a moment before turning to open the wooden door.
“Excuse me, could I have a pot of tea?”
The eunuch looked up at her, then nodded slightly before turning to head into the main hall.
Time waits for no one. Jiang Ning mixed glutinous rice flour, cornstarch, and sugar together. While the attendant went to fetch tea, she lit the firewood and soaked the peach in cold water, then opened the System Panel to check.
Only a small portion of the kitchen utensils were usable, but it was enough.
In the top left corner of the panel was a sparkling icon—a carton of yogurt. At the bottom of the yogurt were the words "Today's Special."
It was precisely after seeing this yogurt that she decided to make this dessert.
"Young lady, the tea is here."
Thinking Jiang Ning was thirsty, the attendant brought not only a pot of tea but also a white-glazed porcelain cup.
"Thank you."
The attendant nodded and walked outside, thoughtfully closing the door behind him once more.
The tea was quite hot. She carefully poured it into the porcelain cup, making sure not a single tea leaf fell out. The small kitchen was instantly filled with the fragrance of tea, its aroma alone enough to make one's mouth water.
She poured the slightly scalding tea into a bowl, dissolving the snow-white glutinous rice flour and cornstarch, tinting the mixture with a faint tea color.
Jiang Ning pulled out a whisk and began stirring frantically, trying to shorten the time needed to make the dessert as much as possible.
The powder in the bowl gradually turned into a paste, and the sugar dissolved completely. Shaking her sore and tired hand, she placed the bowl on the steaming rack and went to add more firewood.
The fire burned fiercely, and the bellows creaked loudly as she pulled them. The paste in the bowl soon turned into a sticky dough.
Jiang Ning inverted the bowl, pouring out the sticky dough with its faint tea color and aroma. She added butter and began kneading it with her "ruthless iron hands."
But these were, after all, Jiang Shiyu's hands, not her own. The moment she touched the hot dough, her palms turned red.
"Ouch—!"
The heart-wrenching cry made Ji Ke, who was pouring tea in the pavilion across the water, pause and glance over.
The attendant outside knocked on the door, still polite and proper.
"Young lady?"
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine—"
Tears welling in her eyes, Jiang Ning gasped in pain while kneading, stomping her feet on the ground as if trying to transfer the heat from her hands to the floor.
The butter slowly melted in the heat, blending with the dough. Once it took shape, she immediately threw it back into the bowl, then placed the bowl in cold water to cool. She ran to another basin to soak her hands, her shoulders relaxing in relief.
"Ah, that feels good."
She casually squeezed the peach in the basin. After soaking for so long, the peach was even cooler than the water. Satisfied, she took it out, peeled it, and cut it into pieces, unable to resist taking a few bites herself.
The fruit was large, juicy, sweet, and delicious—truly worthy of being sent to the palace, with not a single flaw in its appearance.
When the dough was only slightly warm, she carried the bowl to the well, placed it in a wooden bucket, and lowered it down. Returning to the kitchen, she began frying glutinous rice flour.
The attendant merely glanced at her but said nothing and did not stop her actions.
After estimating enough time had passed, she turned the handle to raise the wooden bucket, retrieved the bowl of dough, and hurriedly carried it back.
Sprinkling the fried glutinous rice flour onto the cutting board, she began rolling out the dough.
The well water was cool and clear, and the dough chilled through it was even colder and more elastic, carrying a refreshing coolness to the touch.
Once the dough was rolled out, she placed it in a bowl, scooped out the yogurt and poured it into the dough, then added the finely chopped pink peach flesh. Thus, the Oolong Peach Snowy Mooncake was complete.
Of course, whether it was oolong tea or not didn’t matter—what mattered was that the tea was truly fragrant.
Due to the short time and limited yogurt, she only made four.
Four plump, tea-colored dumplings nestled together on a plate, dusted with a light coating of glutinous rice flour that carried a subtle, sweet aroma. They looked both delightful and adorable.
Outside, the sun was blazing, making this chilled dessert the perfect treat for a hot afternoon.
Jiang Ning breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at the eunuch standing by the door, hesitating for a moment, unsure how to address him.
"You may call me Little Fu or Eunuch Fu, miss."
"Eunuch Fu, I've finished. Shall we go now or wait a little longer?"
Eunuch Fu glanced toward the waterside pavilion across the way and nodded. "Now."
Jiang Ning returned to the kitchen, picked up the rosewood tray, and followed him back to the pavilion.
Halfway there, Eunuch Fu let out a soft sigh and turned to look at her.
"Our master has always had a delicate appetite. If he only takes one bite, that's perfectly normal. Don't be disheartened, miss. I can already smell how fragrant it is—you could open a shop outside the palace and it wouldn't be any worse than what's served here."
The imperial notice had been posted many times, and he had seen numerous master chefs come and go. Many of them grew disheartened when the master only took a bite or refused to eat at all, doubting their own skills. Some even reacted so strongly that they vowed never to cook again.
It had been a long time since anyone dared to answer the notice, so he was surprised when this young girl stepped forward today.
Seeing her bright, spirited expression, he couldn't help but offer a few extra words of comfort.
Jiang Ning was taken aback, not expecting him to console her in advance. Then, she smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Eunuch Fu. I understand. Eating is also a matter of fate. Different people can create different flavors, and it's perfectly normal if someone doesn't like it—it just means the right moment hasn't come yet."
Though she said this, Jiang Ning was quite confident.
Even if this person didn't eat much, it was highly unlikely he wouldn't enjoy this dish.