Xue Li was incensed by her own unprincipled love for money. At this moment, she indignantly grabbed a smooth, clean spring chicken and tossed it into the pot, sending a ring of broth splashing upward.
To think she had actually considered that since she was taking a salary from the Marquis’s estate, she should fulfill her duties to the utmost. For the very first meal, she had planned to brew a pot of Date and Mushroom Stewed Spring Chicken to properly nourish the Marquis of Ningwu’s body. Who would have known that beneath that gentlemanly face of “clear breeze and jade bones” lay the ugly snout of a petty schemer? It was truly infuriating.
But as angry as she was, what could she do?
Xue Li could only force herself to think about that generous salary. As she prepared the ingredients, her mood gradually began to steady and calm.
“Eh?” Jiang Xiyu leaned in closer to watch. “Why soak the mushrooms in rice-washing water?”
As Xue Li blanched the young chicken to remove the blood foam, she explained: “Mushrooms have many folds that hide a muddy, fishy smell. Rice water is thick; using it to soak the mushrooms can dissipate much of that rank odor.”
In truth, this method had long been recorded in Shanjia Qinggong (Simple Delicacies of a Mountain Dweller) as “soaking mushrooms in rice water to remove turbidity and preserve clarity.” She was merely borrowing the technique. To put it in more scientific terms, rice water contains amylase and mildly alkaline substances that can effectively break down the chitin in the mushroom cell walls while neutralizing acidic, earthy-smelling compounds.
“So that’s why!” Jiang Xiyu had a sudden realization. “Li’er, you have so many of these little tricks. No wonder the dishes you make taste so different!”
Xue Li smiled. After placing the soaked mushrooms at the bottom of the clay pot, she continued to add several medicinal ingredients: astragalus, goji berries, and dried dates.
These dates were the “Lingbao Round Dates”—treasures that Guo Lixiang had insisted on giving her to snack on when she left the estate yesterday. These Lingbao dates were vastly different from ordinary large dates. They were produced in the sandy soil zones along the Yellow River in Lingbao; they were firm, chewy, intensely sweet, and fragrant. Their market price was ten times that of common red dates, making them a luxury available only to the nobility.
Guo Lixiang was merely a Chef-Overseer in the Marquis’s estate, yet he gave them away so casually, and just as snacks for her at that.
As expected of the Marquis of Ningwu’s estate—favored and deeply endowed by the Emperor—they were truly extravagant!
Xue Li happily popped one into her own mouth and then gave one to Jiang Xiyu. Humming a sweet little tune, she layered the blanched spring chicken on top and added half a cup of laozao (fermented glutinous rice) juice and a few thick slices of old ginger. Now, all that was left was to bring the soup to a boil over a high flame, then turn it down to a low simmer for two hours.
Just then, a hurried figure rushed in from the front hall.
“Sister Li’er! Something’s wrong!” Mo’er flew in frantically, shouting breathlessly, “Outside… there are a bunch of strange people outside!”
Hearing this, Xue Li and Jiang Xiyu exchanged a glance. Xue Li patted her apron and said, “Don’t panic! Let me go see what kind of demons or monsters have arrived.”
Before she even reached the front hall, she could hear the cacophony of a massive crowd. Taking a closer look—hey! Those weren’t “strange people” at all!
Standing at the head of the group outside the shop was a man wearing a straight-angled futou (official cap), deer-hide boots, and a crimson, round-collared robe with narrow sleeves, dressed with meticulous care. This was the standard uniform of a high-ranking eunuch from the Palace Attendants Department!
Furthermore, behind him were two junior eunuchs in green silk robes, holding vermilion lacquer trays covered with bright yellow brocade.
Xue Li’s eyes lit up instantly. In all the time she had been in the Song Dynasty, this was the first time she was seeing an Imperial Decree!
The street outside was packed to the point that not a drop of water could trickle through. The onlookers were buzzing with gossip:
“Eh, the young lady who owns this Rare Delicacies Shop was just taken away by the Marquis of Ningwu yesterday, and today the Palace shows up at her door. Could she have committed a crime?”
“Weren’t they saying she’s an enemy spy?”
“How could she be a spy? If she were, she’d have been taken away for torture long ago. Why would the palace eunuchs be waiting for her with such pleasant expressions?”
“Your information is too out of date! There was no spy. This Shopkeeper Xue is clearly the one who answered the Imperial Notice! she’s going to be a chef at the Marquis of Ningwu’s estate!”
“…”
In all her years as a female thief, Jiang Xiyu had never seen such a spectacle unless the entire Inspection Bureau turned out to arrest her. She was now both excited and nervous, whispering into Xue Li’s ear: “Could this be one of those ‘Honored Gentlemen’ from the Emperor’s side?”
With this level of dignity and such an entourage, it would be hard to argue otherwise.
Xue Li hurriedly stepped forward and knelt: “This humble woman awaits the Imperial Command.”
The eunuch, pale and beardless with a majestic brow, slowly unfurled the decree and announced in a high-pitched voice:
“By Imperial Command!
Decree: It has been found that the woman of the Xue clan, of the Rare Delicacies Shop in Bianjing, is skilled in the balance of the cauldron and well-versed in the flavors of the hearth. Now that the Marquis of Ningwu has opened his estate to guests, it is fitting to have the skill of fine delicacies. She is specially permitted to answer the recruitment notice and shall proceed immediately to the Marquis’s Dietary Office for service. All provisions of fuel and ingredients shall be allocated according to the precedents for external kitchens of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Let Xue Li act accordingly!”
Recalling the etiquette from the period dramas she had watched in the past, Xue Li raised both hands high to receive the decree scroll. “I, Xue Li, respectfully thank the Imperial Grace.”
The eunuch stepped forward to assist her up, speaking cordially: “The Marquis of Ningwu is the Emperor’s ‘thighs and forearms’ (trusted aide). His well-being is of great importance. This task will require much effort from you, Miss Xue.”
“The Honored Gentleman overstates it. I would not dare be negligent.” Xue Li wouldn’t dream of taking such words lightly. “Since I have answered the notice, the Marquis’s safety is my duty. I will naturally devote my heart and mind to nourishing his body.”
The eunuch nodded with satisfaction and departed in a simple, curtained sedan chair accompanied by the two junior eunuchs.
The crowd, which had been silent during the reading of the decree, now erupted again. This was a task for the Marquis of Ningwu, the Emperor’s favorite! And it was a command bestowed by the Palace! Miss Xue had truly struck gold!
Jiang Xiyu threw an arm around Xue Li’s shoulders, her smile so wide her mouth wouldn’t close. “Good Li’er, this is a heaven-sent blessing hitting us on the head!”
Even the three little kids in the shop were clapping and jumping, each one looking merry and overjoyed. Only Xue Li herself felt a massive headache coming on.
“Sigh, the pressure is as heavy as a mountain…” If the Marquis of Ningwu’s health improved, that would be one thing. But if there was no sign of recovery, wouldn’t her little life be at stake?
“Pressure? What kind of pressure?” Jiang Xiyu asked, confused by the modern term.
Xue Li sighed softly and shook her head. She never expected that one day, she would feel the same way as Guo Lixiang did when he had cried to her.
It wasn’t until noon that Xue Li managed to squeeze a path out of the crowded, standing-room-only Rare Delicacies Shop.
“Oh, my little lady, why did you only arrive just now?” In the back kitchen of the Marquis’s estate, Guo Lixiang’s spatula was swinging so fast that sparks were nearly flying from the bottom of the pot. As he tossed ingredients in, he spared a hurried glance at Xue Li.
Isn’t it all the fault of that Marquis of yours?
“The shop was just too busy, which is why I’m a bit late.” Xue Li placed the clay pot onto a vacant red-clay stove, explaining with a bright smile, “Don’t worry, Chef-Overseer. I’ve already stewed this chicken for a long time. It only needs a bit of seasoning before it can be served.”
“Stewed chicken?” Guo Lixiang couldn’t help but take a few extra looks. “The Marquis has never liked the greasiness of chicken or duck. Can you really pull this off?”
Xue Li didn’t say a word. She simply took a bowl and spoon, lifted the lid of the clay pot, and scooped out a small bowl of chicken soup. She then pinched a tiny bit of salt, stirred it in, and held it under Guo Lixiang’s nose.
Guo Lixiang understood immediately. He took a small sip and, after a moment, looked at her with shining eyes: “I think it’ll work!”
Xue Li raised an eyebrow proudly. Her gaze swept the room, noting that the kitchen workers and assistants were all frantically busy, either preparing or cooking dishes. Servants were frequently entering and leaving the kitchen, running non-stop to deliver the food. She couldn’t help but ask: “Is there a banquet at the estate today?”
“Indeed there is!” Guo Lixiang grabbed a sweat cloth to wipe the perspiration dripping from his cheeks and took a breather. “Two days ago, the flowers in the garden burst into full bloom. The Grand Matron Wu organized a Flower Appreciation Banquet, inviting the noble daughters of the entire capital to come and enjoy the view. Once their eyes are full, shouldn’t their bellies be full too?”
Xue Li’s eyes curved into smiles. “I suspect the Grand Matron isn’t inviting these noble ladies to look at flowers, but to choose a wife for the Marquis.”
Hearing this, Guo Lixiang hurried to hiss “shhh” twice. He looked around suspiciously before lowering his voice: “Don’t mention choosing a wife. Whatever you do, don’t let it slip in front of the Marquis. Right now, his whole mind is devoted to the state and public service; he finds matters of the heart most bothersome.”
Xue Li covered her mouth and giggled, her fox-like eyes darting about as she nodded obediently. “I know, I know.”
Seeing how busy the kitchen was, Xue Li asked Guo Lixiang for the location of Qi Yue’s residence. She quietly filled a large bowl with the Date and Mushroom Stewed Spring Chicken, placed it in a food box, and slipped away to find Qi Yue.
What the stinky man got, her little sister naturally couldn’t go without.
That being said, this Marquis of Ningwu’s estate was truly vast—five rooms wide and three rooms deep, with vermilion doors studded with golden nails and green tiles gracing the eaves.
Between the dining area and the front was a reception hall, connected by a gallery at the back. A small black-lacquered door on the east led to a bamboo pavilion, while on the west stood a hexagonal stage built over the water. At this moment, the sounds of flutes and pipes were incessant on the stage; presumably, the noble ladies were enjoying the music.
Xue Li walked in a large circle with the food box until she was dizzy, yet she still failed to find Qi Yue’s courtyard. As it was midday and the sun was growing stronger, she simply found a cool, shaded spot to take a short break.
…
In the garden, the blossoms were as beautiful as brocade, with a hundred flowers competing for glamour. A glance at the pavilions and waterside terraces revealed the silhouettes of fine clothes and elegant hairstyles—a scene of emeralds, pearls, and competing beauties.
Qi Xun couldn’t help but feel a bit of a headache. He wanted to use the excuse of having had enough wine to leave his seat, but he was firmly pressed back down by the Grand Matron Wu.
Qi Xun pursed his lips helplessly to show his dissatisfaction, but the Grand Matron acted as if she hadn’t seen it. She only smiled warmly and said to him: “‘The five flavors follow a sequence for a banquet to be complete.’ Since you are the host, it is only right that you leave after the meal is finished.”
“Grand Matron is right to chide me.” Qi Xun could only nod with a smile.
How could he not know his grandmother’s intentions? She had simply seen her peers enjoying the company of grandchildren and couldn’t help but feel envious.
Moreover, on this campaign, he had been severely injured, which had caused the elderly woman much fear and added to her worries.
He still remembered the time he was bedridden from his injuries; the Grand Matron had ordered a Buddha statue to be moved into his room. She herself would come every day without fail to pray and chant, always asking for the same thing: hoping the Goddess of Mercy would grant him a child. It didn’t matter who gave birth to it; having one would be enough.
Her exact words were: “You are still so young. If Heaven doesn’t show mercy and you die in a place where blades and spears have no eyes—unmarried and without an heir—once I pass away, the ghost of this old woman won’t have anyone to carry her coffin, will she?”
Later, the Grand Matron stopped praying to Buddha but developed an interest in banquets instead. Every few days, she would invite the noblewomen of the capital to gather, claiming it was for them to keep an old woman of sixty company and make things lively.
Qi Xun saw through it but said nothing. He only took a cup of litchi paste water from a servant to cool off and took a sip.