The small kitchen immediately became a hive of activity.
Xiao Jingshi, Lu Chengyuan, and Xie Zhao stood at the doorway, watching Ye An’an command the two maids with the precision and confidence of a general on the battlefield.
None of them left.
Partly, they were captivated by her overwhelming confidence and infectious energy; partly, they were genuinely curious—how could this pile of utterly unappetizing ingredients possibly transform into a culinary masterpiece?
“Caramelizing the sugar is key. Use low heat and go slow, or it’ll burn and turn bitter,” Ye An’an instructed the maids while keeping a sharp eye on the pan.
They watched as the rock sugar slowly melted in the hot oil, turning from transparent to pale yellow, then bubbling gently, finally achieving a beautiful jujube-red color.
“Now! Pour in the boiling water!”
At her command, Fuyun ladled steaming water into the pot with a loud hiss.
Instantly, steam billowed, and the sweet aroma of caramel filled the air.
“Wow, it smells amazing!” Xie Zhao inhaled deeply. The previous stench of raw offal seemed to vanish in this fragrant wave.
With the sugar syrup ready, Ye An’an took the lead.
She poured in enough water and, like a skilled apothecary, began adding a variety of spices: large pieces of cinnamon, star anise, dark green bay leaves, fennel seeds, tsaoko, cloves, and white angelica root… a dozen spices thrown in generously.
Next came a hefty portion of sliced scallions, ginger, and an entire jug of soy sauce and cooking wine.
Soon, the clear sugar water had transformed into a dark, rich, fragrant broth.
As the temperature rose, the aromas of the spices fully awakened, blending with the savory soy sauce and sweet caramel to create an unprecedented, complex, and commanding fragrance.
This intoxicating scent wafted out of the small kitchen, filling the entire courtyard of the Tinglan Water Pavilion.
“My goodness… what is this smell?” Xie Zhao exclaimed. “It’s so fragrant! Just smelling this alone could make me eat three bowls of rice!”
Lu Chengyuan also looked astonished. He never imagined that these ordinary spices combined could trigger such a marvelous chemical reaction.
Even though Xiao Jingshi’s face remained impassive, the slight twitch of his nostrils and the unconscious movement of his Adam’s apple betrayed his inner stirrings.
He had lived twenty-one years in the palace, and while the imperial chefs could make all the finest dishes in the world, none had ever produced such a strong, aggressive, soul-stirring aroma.
The broth bubbled vigorously in the pot, the fragrance growing even more intense.
Ye An’an tasted the soup with a spoon, adjusting the seasoning as needed.
“All right, this ancestral-grade marinade base is now ready,” she declared, clapping her hands in satisfaction. Then she looked at the now-clean ingredients, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Next… is the moment to witness a miracle!”
She picked up a plump, cleaned pig trotter, and in front of the three men’s skeptical eyes, carefully placed it into the boiling marinade.
The trotter sank into the dark liquid, instantly submerged.
One by one, she added the second, third… then chicken feet, gizzards, duck wings, duck clavicles…
Finally came the ingredient that looked most “terrifying”—the pig intestines.
Once all the ingredients were in, Ye An’an covered the pot.
“Now, the only thing we can do is wait,” she said, wiping her hands with a satisfied smile.
Waiting was the hardest part.
Especially when the domineering aroma of the stew leaked from under the lid, attacking the senses from all angles.
Xie Zhao could no longer remain still. He paced around the stove like an ant on a hot pan.
“Consort, how much longer? I’m being tortured by this smell!”
“Patience is required for hot tofu, let alone slow-braised delicacies,” Ye An’an replied with amusement. “These need to simmer gently to absorb the flavors. Especially pig trotters and intestines—they won’t be done in less than an hour.”
An hour!
Xie Zhao groaned in despair.
Minutes ticked by. The atmosphere in the small kitchen became strange.
Three grown men and two young maids all fixed their eyes on the pot, silent, hearing only the bubbling of the stew and the collective swallowing of saliva.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ye An’an announced, “Time’s up. Let’s take them out!”
She inhaled deeply, as if opening a treasure chest, and slowly lifted the lid.
“Boom—”
A fragrance ten times richer than before burst out, along with rising waves of heat!
Everyone in the kitchen instinctively stepped back, overwhelmed, only to be drawn forward again as if pulled by a magnet.
The braising liquid, after over an hour of simmering, had darkened and glistened with oil.
The formerly pale ingredients had all transformed into a glossy reddish-brown, coated with shimmering marinade, slightly quivering, shining with a luscious sheen under the light.
The combined aroma of meat, soy, and spices fused perfectly, forming an indescribable, irresistible allure.
“My… heavens…” Xie Zhao stared at the pot, dumbfounded, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.
This… this was the same “trash” he had seen before?
Clearly, this was a pot of absolute culinary treasure!