No matter how well a steamed bun is made, could it really bloom into a flower?
A burst of laughter erupted.
Yun Feng gritted his teeth in anger, fiercely chewing the minced meat in his mouth—whether it was sheep’s brain, trotter, or eye, he couldn’t tell. The gamey smell nearly made him black out. Learning from this painful experience, he resolved to buy the Cloud Crisp Buns from Young Lady Xue’s stall the very next day. He would let these crude men, who knew nothing of fine food, taste what the true delicacies of the world were!
“Didn’t I tell you all earlier? In the entire capital city of Bianjing, the Cloud Crisp Bun is exclusive to Xue’s stall! A’fu! Stop eating for a moment, stop, stop. First, tell us, has this Cloud Crisp Bun truly bloomed into a flower?” Yun Feng leaned against the pillar, arms crossed, glancing sideways at the guard A’fu, who had covered his shift for an hour yesterday. He raised an eyebrow smugly.
“Brother Feng, don’t tease me… If I stop eating now to talk to you, I’m afraid—Hey! Hey, hey! I grabbed this bun first!”
A’fu had a Cloud Crisp Bun dangling from his mouth and subconsciously turned his head to reply to Yun Feng. Before he could finish his sentence, the bun in his hand was snatched away by a colleague beside him.
“You’ve already eaten three, haven’t you had enough? You’ll burst your belly!” The colleague still had an unfinished bun in his mouth, laughing and speaking unclearly.
Yun Feng leisurely watched the two of them scuffle, shaking his head with feigned maturity.
He had bought a full fifteen Cloud Crisp Buns. Yet these men were like Zhu Bajie eating the Ginseng Fruit—devouring them in two bites each, wolfing them down without even knowing if they had actually tasted the delicious flavor within.
However, there were also those who understood the principle that “fine food must be chewed thoroughly, and raw food should not be swallowed hastily.” They chewed carefully, savoring the true flavor within: “Guardsman Yun, since Young Lady Xue’s culinary skills are so impressive, does she sell any other foods?”
Hearing this, Yun Feng immediately recalled the new signboard he had glimpsed at the stall this morning.
“She did add two new medicinal dietary soups. One is called the Seven-White Beauty Broth, and the other is the Drunken Immortal Sobering Soup.”
“I know about that!” Before Yun Feng could elaborate, another guard’s eyes lit up, and he hastily chimed in, “The Seven-White Beauty Broth is the latest fad sought after by the ladies in the city. My wife heard from the neighbors early this morning that a young lady making steamed buns by the bridge near Xingguo Temple concocted a Seven-White Drink based on a whitening prescription from the Taiping Holy Prescriptions for Universal Relief, and she calls it the Seven-White Beauty Broth! Yesterday, my wife was clamoring to buy a few bowls to try… but it’s five copper coins a bowl! That’s enough to buy a baked flatbread for a meal.”
“Is it really that miraculous?” someone asked in surprise.
“Isn’t it?” Yun Feng recalled the scene he saw that morning. “Young Lady Xue simply set up a large signboard with eight bold characters painted on it: ‘One bowl a day, skin as smooth as cream!'”
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but chuckle.
It was a known fact that women of the current dynasty all understood the saying, “For a woman’s natural beauty, fairness is the most difficult to achieve.” Only women from wealthy or aristocratic families, who didn’t need to engage in outdoor labor, could maintain a fair complexion long-term.
The pursuit of a fair complexion was already a trend among the ladies in Bianjing. Since they would apply rice powder, clam shell powder, and even lead powder to their faces, how could they refuse a bowl of soup that promised to “whiten from the inside out”?
Yun Feng had already witnessed the preparation of the Seven-White Beauty Broth early that morning.
Young Lady Xue finely ground white poria, white lotus seeds, white hyacinth beans, lily bulbs, fresh yam, and almonds. She then poured in soy milk, boiling it into a thick broth before adding freshly squeezed pear juice for sweetness. She even sprinkled dried osmanthus fragments for decoration, giving it a profound sense of elegance.
The broth was snow-white, and backed by the theory of “white foods nourishing the skin, supplementing color with color,” how could those noblewomen not go crazy for it? What’s more, the young lady selling the soup herself had a complexion as smooth as cream and a face as radiant as the full moon—she was a walking, living signboard. Who was to say it wasn’t the Seven-White Beauty Broth that nourished her?
If her looks were truly nurtured by this broth, then even if it cost a few more copper coins, it was worth buying to try.
“And what about the Drunken Immortal Sobering Soup? What miraculous effects does that have?” someone asked curiously.
The colleague beside him sneered, “You blockhead, isn’t it written right there? ‘Drunken Immortal Sobering’—isn’t it just for curing hangovers?”
Speaking of this Drunken Immortal Sobering Soup, while Yun Feng was queuing in front of the stall this morning, he had asked Young Lady Xue a bit more about it.
Young Lady Xue explained that this was a morning hangover remedy introduced specifically for Bianjing’s night-drinking culture.
At that moment, she had just nimbly packed two baskets of Cloud Crisp Buns and shoved them into his hands with a sly smile. “Although Bianjing officials are forbidden by law from entering taverns to drink, when they really want to drink, no one can stop them. Those who are in a rush to sober up in the morning are mostly officials with hangovers from the night before. There’s nothing wrong with earning a few extra coins from those law-breaking officials.”
When she said this, she deliberately lowered her voice, a shrewd gleam flashing through her playful, fox-like eyes.
Although the current dynasty encouraged civilian wine-making to increase tax revenue, it strictly controlled officials’ drinking behaviors. It was explicitly stipulated that officials were not allowed to enter taverns to eat and drink, a restriction applied across both public and private occasions.
Emperor Zhenzong had once questioned the official Lu Zongdao, “Why did you privately enter a tavern?” and warned him that his behavior might attract impeachment from the censors. From this, it was evident that if Song dynasty officials exposed their visits to taverns due to hangovers, they would face reprimands at best, and dismissal from office at worst.
Yun Feng couldn’t help but chuckle.
If the Marquis knew that there was such a quirky and clever young lady in the marketplace who, just like them, was working against those old fogeys holding sinecures—and doing so in such a novel way—even his icy face might thaw, revealing a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips.
Now that Young Lady Xue had launched this “Drunken Immortal Sobering Soup,” even though it was priced high at seven copper coins a bowl, it happened to sell extremely well. Naturally, those hungover officials absolutely dared not go in person. Instead, they dispatched their household servants to quietly buy it and bring it back to their carriages to drink.
Thinking of this, Yun Feng couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh. “This Young Lady Xue is truly a wondrous person.”
“Who did you say is a wondrous person?” a familiar voice suddenly struck.
Yun Feng stiffened first. Then he caught sight of several colleagues, who had been casually leaning against the balcony railing eating their Cloud Crisp Buns, suddenly freeze. They all shot up to their feet in an instant, nearly dropping the buns in their hands, crying out to the heavens in their hearts.
Qi Xun had walked under the corridor at some unknown point.
He was dressed in standard black casual attire, carrying neither sword nor spear. Yet, as he stood there in the corridor, the awe-inspiring aura surrounding him still made people afraid to take a second look. Let alone this group of the Marquis’s guards who were slacking off to eat buns during their on-duty hours?
Qi Xun cast a cold, indifferent glance at A’fu, who had just separated from scuffling with his colleague over a bun.
The latter shuddered, resembling a quail whose acupoints had been struck. He didn’t know where to hide the Cloud Crisp Bun clutched in his hand. Feeling guilty for slacking off on duty, he immediately straightened his back ramrod straight.
Yun Feng coughed dryly and replied sheepishly, “The ‘wondrous person’ your subordinate just mentioned is actually the young lady who runs a small food stall at Xingguo Temple… The Cloud Crisp Buns made by that young lady are unparalleled in Bianjing.” As he spoke, his volume dropped, the last sentence becoming almost inaudible.
Qi Xun swept his gaze over the bun-like food grasped in A’fu’s hand, his tone neither heavy nor light. “Cloud Crisp Bun?”
Yun Feng hurried to say, “Exactly! The name was coined by the young lady herself. It is said that when you tear the bun open, the flaky pastry layers are distinct, it feels light in the mouth, and it is as thin as clouds and mist.”
Qi Xun didn’t say a word, but his brow relaxed imperceptibly. His gaze fell upon the Cloud Crisp Bun again, seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing him remain silent, everyone thought he was enraged by this and lowered their heads, glancing at each other anxiously.
…In reality, Qi Xun had come precisely for this Cloud Crisp Bun.
Ever since leading the troops into battle against the Northern Han and suffering a stab wound to the abdomen that left him with a stomach ailment, he had been strictly following the prescriptions set by the Imperial Medical Bureau in the palace, maintaining a bland diet day after day. If it were anyone else, it would be unbearable, but he naturally lacked much desire for food, so following the doctor’s orders suited him just fine.
However, early this morning had been somewhat abnormal.
After his morning spear practice, he returned to the study as usual to review case files. When mealtime arrived, a servant brought over Seven-Treasure Vegetarian Congee and a platter of fresh seasonal spring vegetables. He set down his documents and was just moving his chopsticks to pick up food. Suddenly, the aroma of meat drifted into the room through the crack of the unlatched carved awning window, gradually filling the entire room with its fragrance.
It was the scent of mutton, which should have been gamey, yet there wasn’t the slightest hint of foulness in the air. Instead, it exuded an appetizing, sweet fragrance that lingered faintly around the nose. Like the hint of warmth emanating from a charcoal stove during a howling blizzard, it tantalized the depths of one’s heart.
He unconsciously paused his bowl and chopsticks, his mind quietly drawn by the aroma, gradually drifting out the carved awning window. It wasn’t until the servant beside him, seeing him motionless for so long and assuming something was wrong with the dishes, hurriedly asked in a low voice, that he snapped back to reality. Keeping his expression normal, he simply replied that it was fine. But deep down, he was somewhat displeased—being distracted by a wisp of ordinary food aroma was truly unlike him.
Ordinary… cough, cough, perhaps it wasn’t exactly ordinary…
When he prepared to move his chopsticks again, he looked down at the watery Seven-Treasure Vegetarian Congee and the overly plain seasonal spring platter in front of him, and suddenly lost his appetite.
Pondering for a moment, he put down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked straight out of the study.
He originally thought it was just Qi Yue being gluttonous again, tossing about the kitchen to research some newfangled dish. Yet, he ended up seeing Yun Feng and several guards gnawing on buns in the corner.
No, to be precise, they weren’t ordinary steamed buns.
A’fu noticed Qi Xun’s gaze resting on the Cloud Crisp Bun in his hand and felt the hairs all over his body stand on end. He looked left and right, and finally, reaching out his hand reluctantly, he said with a pained expression, “It is currently time for the Marquis’s morning meal. The flavor of this Cloud Crisp Bun is excellent; eating it will surely alleviate the Marquis’s stomach ailment.”
He hadn’t said a word, yet this little guard was quite quick-witted.
Qi Xun withdrew his gaze, just as he was thinking of a dignified way to take this “Cloud Crisp Bun,” but the tactless Yun Feng rudely interjected.
“A’fu, you blockhead! The Marquis currently has a weak stomach, and the mutton filling in this bun is of a fiery nature. If he eats it, it will cause abdominal bloating and pain!”
A’fu instantly reacted, immediately echoing “Oh, oh, oh” in agreement. He hastily pulled his hand back, shielding the “culprit” Cloud Crisp Bun behind his back, secretly rejoicing in his heart. After all that going around in circles, the bun was ultimately his! Wonderful!
Qi Xun’s expression darkened.
Unfortunately, Yun Feng failed to notice, merely continuing to nag like a mother hen: “The imperial physicians in the palace have long said that the Marquis’s wound is in the abdomen, and his stomach ailment is as precarious as a stack of eggs. He absolutely must not be careless with his diet. Furthermore, the Marquis has been taking Lizhong Decoction continuously for the past two weeks, so he should be even more strict with his dietary restrictions. That Zhenjun Congee, made by boiling pitted apricots until mushy and cooking them together with rice, is very nourishing for the stomach. Why doesn’t the Marquis eat some Zhenjun Congee? I also heard…”
“Enough.” A deep, freezing voice suddenly fell.
Yun Feng was interrupted with his mouth hanging wide open. Turning his eyes, he crashed into Qi Xun’s deep, cold, and silent gaze. He instantly felt a chill on the back of his neck, an ominous premonition blooming in his heart.
Qi Xun’s expression was indifferent, his tone carrying his usual unquestionable authority: “Leisurely eating during on-duty hours. Each of you, go receive five strikes of the military cane, plus a deduction of this month’s salary.”
“Yes, sir!” Everyone replied immediately, their hearts turning to dead ashes.
It wasn’t until Qi Xun stepped out of the courtyard gate that everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“That scared me into a cold sweat.” One guard suddenly felt like he had survived a catastrophe. “The Marquis was perfectly fine just a moment ago. How did his face suddenly turn so cold, without even a warning?”
Yun Feng was also completely baffled, still not knowing which of his words had gone wrong. He simply sighed to himself, “Alas, the Marquis is wounded, and his stomach ailment hasn’t improved for a long time. As the old saying goes, ‘When the stomach is discordant, the spirit is unwell.’ I suppose he is feeling troubled in his heart too!”
[Author’s Note]
“Fine food must be chewed thoroughly, and raw food should not be swallowed hastily” originates from the famous Tang Dynasty physician Sun Simiao’s Ode to Cultivating the Nature in the Forest of Dao.
“For a woman’s natural beauty, fairness is the most difficult to achieve” originates from Section on Voice and Appearance: Chapter One on Selecting Posture.
Emperor Taizu of Song once furiously scolded officials for proposing to chop down giant trees to repair the palace with “Chop off your grandfather’s head!” The term “blockhead” (literally “chopped-wood head”) in the text comes from this.