From then on, Consort Li must have Zhenzhen’s dishes with every meal, as her cooking style was vastly different from the previous nourishing medicinal meals and clearly gained the Consort’s favor. During meals, the Consort also loved to summon Zhenzhen to attend her, and Zhenzhen’s nature was not as restrained as typical palace servants. She often spoke animatedly about things she had seen and heard outside the palace, which the Consort listened to with great interest, improving her mood considerably. Zhenzhen also suggested the Consort regularly engage in activities like pitch-pot and shuttlecock kicking, encouraging her to walk more in the rear garden. The Consort followed this advice, and her spirits improved markedly with much less lethargy.
One day, the Consort sent word through Hu Dishan that His Majesty would visit Laifeng Pavilion for lunch and required careful preparation of food, specifically instructing Zhenzhen to make a dish that would be refreshingly impressive for His Majesty to taste.
The Emperor hadn’t come to dine with Consort Li for a long time, so everyone in the pavilion was elated, spreading the news excitedly. Hu Dishan felt the weight of responsibility even more, instructing Zhenzhen to prepare her dish well before going to select ingredients and beginning her busy preparations.
Zhenzhen surveyed the available ingredients and found nothing particularly rare or precious. The best would be the seasonal lake crabs, currently at their peak with full roe and rich fat. However, precisely because they were in season, His Majesty’s recent meals likely included plenty of lake crabs. If prepared by ordinary steaming and boiling, how could it be refreshingly impressive?
As Zhenzhen pondered, her wandering gaze moved to the oranges in the fruit section, and inspiration suddenly struck—she had an idea.
Though she only had one morning, Hu Dishan still prepared several exquisite dishes: lychee white kidneys, pan-fried three-color delicacies, universal soup, and she specially requested a Huai white fish from the Royal Kitchen to make the Emperor’s favorite wine-steamed Huai white fish. The Emperor praised the lunch as sumptuous upon seeing it but didn’t comment on specific dishes, eating unhurriedly while occasionally conversing with Consort Li.
Shortly after, Zhenzhen’s dish was ready. Following Consort Li’s instructions, she arranged it on a plate and personally brought it to the imperial table.
This dish immediately caught the Emperor’s attention: it appeared to be two large oranges, golden in color, with the stem tops showing they had been cut open—there was a neat circular knife mark—but the stem tops still covered them, maintaining the oranges’ complete form. The silver plate holding the oranges also held two sprigs of bright little chrysanthemums.
Zhenzhen presented one to each imperial diner, removing the stem tops for them. Several wisps of hot steam escaped, then what appeared before everyone’s eyes was crab meat and roe mixed with golden orange juice.
This “Crab-Stuffed Orange” dish was made according to the recipe in the notes Lin Hong had given her: hollow out the orange and extract a little orange juice, then select several lake crabs, remove the crab meat and roe, place them in the orange vessel, mix with orange juice, cover with the stem top, place the orange in a small steamer, add wine and vinegar to the water, and steam until cooked.
Zhenzhen invited the imperial diners to eat with vinegar and salt from the table. The Emperor tasted it and smiled: “Excellent. With the orange’s fresh fragrance penetrating it, this crab meat and roe is especially aromatic and fresh, and the rich crab roe doesn’t feel greasy. The presentation is also clever—new wine, chrysanthemums, fragrant oranges, and crabs are very fitting for this season.”
Zhenzhen bowed in gratitude for His Majesty’s praise. As she rose, she quietly observed him. His Majesty was about forty years old, with a nose like a hanging gall, clear and gentle eyebrows and eyes, and a beautiful beard. Probably from regularly practicing archery and horsemanship, his skin was somewhat dark, but overall he still appeared more scholarly than martial in bearing. At this moment he was smiling at her, looking quite kind.
After tasting, Consort Li also praised it, saying the method was innovative. The Emperor immediately told her: “Actually, the method of steaming crab in orange vessels existed when the Late Emperor was on the throne. Liu Sishan made it for the Late Emperor back then, using meat from swimming crab claws, filling the orange before steaming. Pieces of white claw meat soaked in orange juice looked like white jade covered in gold—quite beautiful.”
Swimming crabs are large blue crabs with large, firm claw meat that’s very fresh and fragrant. Zhenzhen imagined this claw meat crab-stuffed orange, privately thinking the taste might be even more refreshing and sweet than that made with lake crabs, though filling one large orange would probably require dismantling the claws of a dozen or twenty swimming crabs.
Consort Li also thought of this problem: “But to make one orange vessel, how many swimming crab claws would be needed?”
“So this is an extremely extravagant method,” the Emperor shook his head and sighed. “Swimming crabs are already expensive, and after removing claw meat from so many swimming crabs, the remaining crab bodies have limited use—most would still be wasted.”
Consort Li said in surprise: “The Late Emperor often warned us that dining must be frugal and avoid waste. How could he have Liu Sishan make such a dish?”
“This was probably the Qi Grand Tutor’s family method,” the Emperor said. “After Liu Sishan prepared it for the Late Emperor, he wouldn’t eat it and ordered her to serve it to me instead.”
Consort Li pursued: “Did Your Majesty eat it?”
The Emperor laughed: “If Father wouldn’t eat it, how could I dare accept it? After repeatedly declining, the Late Emperor had Liu Sishan send this orange vessel to Lady Ju.”
“Lady Ju…” Consort Li was somewhat startled, then exchanged a knowing glance with the Emperor and smiled speechlessly.
Zhenzhen stood to one side, hearing them mention Liu Sishan and Lady Ju with great curiosity, holding her breath listening and hoping to hear more about their deeds. But the Emperor said no more, changing the subject to tell Consort Li: “Today, Elder Brother actually took the initiative to mention Feng Jing to me… This is probably the first time since the Crown Princess selection matter.”
Consort Li couldn’t help but widen her eyes. After a long moment, she sighed softly and asked: “What did Elder Brother say about her?”
The Emperor said: “After morning court, Director Jiang, who oversees Jujing Garden construction, requested an audience. He said he had previously sent blueprints for the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber courtyard in the garden to Cifu Palace, and the Empress Dowager replied that modifications were needed. Director Jiang revised them several times, but the Empress Dowager was never satisfied, yet wouldn’t specify exactly how to change them. Director Jiang was at a loss and came to consult my opinion. The Crown Prince happened to be beside me, silently listening to our conversation and carefully examining Director Jiang’s blueprints. Later, after Director Jiang withdrew, he spoke to me saying: The Empress Dowager perhaps feels that a bedchamber courtyard differs from men’s quarters—it must be dignified yet beautiful, grand yet refined. Director Jiang’s design has sufficient grandeur but lacks elegance. Perhaps a woman with insight into buildings and gardens is needed to offer opinions.”
Consort Li immediately understood: “So he thought of little Jing.”
Zhenzhen had also heard of Jujing Garden, located outside Qingbo Gate on West Lake’s shore. It was a royal garden whose construction began during the Late Emperor’s lifetime. Due to its vast area and massive scale, construction continued to this day without completion. Hearing His Majesty relay the Crown Prince’s meaning, it seemed Feng Jing was quite accomplished in garden design. Zhenzhen was secretly amazed—she had spent considerable time with Feng Jing yet never heard her mention this, thinking she only studied culinary arts all day.
“Elder Brother said Feng Jing can paint architectural drawings, is skilled in mathematics, and understands civil engineering. Moreover, as a palace servant, she can conveniently enter and exit Cifu Palace to consult the Empress Dowager’s opinions in person. With her participation in the design, it would surely satisfy the Empress Dowager’s wishes.” The Emperor continued, then sighed: “Actually, Elder Brother was right. Feng Jing is a rare talented woman. Having her relegated to the Royal Kitchen was truly wronging her.”
Consort Li was silent for a long time before saying: “But entering the Royal Kitchen was her own idea originally. Your Majesty initially wanted her to study with the Palace Administration for several years, then give her a high position… This child appears gentle and compliant but is actually quite stubborn. I also want her to participate in Jujing Garden’s design to serve the Empress Dowager loyally, but I don’t know what she’s thinking now, whether she worries this matter would invite gossip again…”
The Emperor thought for a moment: “Perhaps you could privately ask her to come and inquire, try to persuade her to accept, so as not to disappoint Elder Brother’s kind recommendation. They might have a turnaround in their relationship because of this matter—who knows.”
Consort Li acted accordingly. That afternoon, she had Zhenzhen invite Feng Jing to play pitch-pot with the Consort in her pavilion.
This was Zhenzhen’s first time seeing Feng Jing play this game, and Feng Jing’s performance impressed her greatly. In the first round, every arrow Feng Jing threw landed in the pot’s mouth, achieving a “full pot.” Before throwing, her brows furrowed slightly in concentration, and her expression while aiming was calm and focused, revealing a trace of resolute heroism—nothing like the supposedly fragile woman abandoned without mercy in the rumors.
For the second round, Zhenzhen suggested comparing techniques. Feng Jing was no less skilled, first throwing two arrows into the pot’s ears, completing “threading the ears,” then having someone pour out the beans in the pot before throwing an arrow inside. When the arrow bounced out, she caught it and threw it back into the pot, winning applause from all observers.
After two rounds, Consort Li had Feng Jing sit down for tea. Seeing Feng Jing in good spirits, she casually mentioned the Crown Prince’s suggestion with feigned nonchalance. Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s name, the smile on Feng Jing’s face instantly vanished. After pondering briefly, she gently but firmly refused the proposal: “Please tell His Majesty through Aunt: Feng Jing’s learning is shallow. Architectural painting and mathematics were merely games I dabbled in while in my maiden chambers—how dare I show off before the imperial presence? Building Jujing Garden is a matter of great importance. The Empress Dowager surely has clear plans for the bedchamber layout, and with Director Jiang and other masters overseeing construction, I dare not presume to comment. I hope His Majesty will forgive me and continue allowing me to remain in the Royal Kitchen as an ordinary cook.”
Consort Li sighed: “Having you enter the Royal Kitchen was originally a temporary measure. His Majesty and I both felt it wronged you and always intended for you to leave and find a position worthy of your talents.”
“Dedicating myself to culinary arts isn’t bad,” Feng Jing said. “Studying all those various skills in the past ultimately only brought self-inflicted troubles. I cried, resented, and was depressed for a long time. Finally, I found peace in pursuing the warm, sweet fragrance of pastries. Besides, skills have no hierarchy—the key is how people use them. An excellent cook isn’t necessarily inferior to a master who can build gardens, because she can use food to create a warm home in people’s hearts.”