The final results were not announced that day. Food Service Officer Qin told the girls to each return to their lodgings, saying those selected would be notified by special personnel.

The candidate girls dispersed, and Food Service Officer Qin returned with County Magistrate Shen to the government office. She spread out the roster of candidates and first made annotations beside Wu Zhenzhen’s name, then took another sheet of paper to write detailed comments for Zhenzhen.

County Magistrate Shen waited quietly for her to finish, then respectfully asked who the next selected person was. Unexpectedly, Food Service Officer Qin put down her brush and said indifferently: “There are no more. I’m only selecting one person.”

County Magistrate Shen was greatly surprised: “Today this humble official saw quite a few talented people. How can you only select one?”

Food Service Officer Qin said: “This time we’re selecting a total of sixty Royal Kitchen internal members, and Liangzhe has fourteen prefectures. Just Wuzhou, to which Pujiang belongs, has seven counties: Jinhua, Yiwu, Yongkang, Wuyi, Lanxi, Dongyang, and Pujiang. Having one person from a county selected is already good. In prefectures I’ve previously examined, some had no one selected at all.”

The wonderful taste of Xi Shi’s Milk quietly surfaced in his mind at this moment, and County Magistrate Shen couldn’t help but sigh regretfully: “Wu Zhenzhen’s culinary skills are certainly good, but it seems Xing Junman’s dishes are more like noble meals. Didn’t Food Service say she achieved six or seven parts of the flavor of imperial chef delicacies?”

“She did achieve six or seven parts, but since the palace already has those who can make ten parts of the flavor, why select someone who can only make six or seven parts?” Food Service Officer Qin retorted.

County Magistrate Shen was stunned and speechless.

Food Service Officer Qin continued: “Xing Junman’s dishes indeed quite resemble the style of meals from Lin’an noble families. However, compared to the skills of our Royal Kitchen internal members who grew up in the palace from childhood, they have no advantage. Those two quail dishes – many internal members can make them better than she can. But Wu Zhenzhen’s dishes, though they seem homely, show that she put thought into pondering them and are quite innovative. That Mountain and Sea Pouch, both in appearance and the artistic conception of its name, is better than… better than similar dishes made by palace internal members. She’s the first person to let me see oil seed rape cooked by stir-frying, and she even thought to improve the shape of cooking utensils used for stir-frying. This will enable her to create more novel dishes following the stir-frying cooking method in the future. Such a girl is the person we’re looking for – different from women commonly seen in the palace, she’s someone who can bring new atmosphere to the Royal Kitchen.”

“Even so…” County Magistrate Shen still sighed, “Miss Xing is still very regrettable. At such a young age, making four exquisite dishes in such a short time – with more training in the future, she’ll surely achieve something. This selection of Royal Kitchen internal members had Yibei Lou’s full support, preparing for over a month, which was truly difficult. They also placed all their hopes of bringing glory to their family on Miss Xing… Why doesn’t Madam give Miss Xing another chance and select two people from Pujiang?”

Food Service Officer Qin resolutely shook her head: “When I select talent, I only look at suitability, not personal relationships. Moreover, that Xing Junman likes to show off and loves vanity. To deliberately display herself, she didn’t follow instructions and presumptuously made four dishes. If this were in the palace, for the sake of stealing the spotlight she would cast noble’s orders to the back of her mind – at best she’d be punished, at worst her life wouldn’t be preserved. With such temperament, forcibly sending her into the palace would actually harm her.”

Seeing Food Service Officer Qin’s firm attitude, County Magistrate Shen had to give up and no longer speak for Xing Junman. But then he thought of Feng Xian and felt endless regret, persuading Food Service Officer Qin: “And that Ling Feng Xian – gentle temperament, understanding, and quite knowledgeable about medicine. Selecting her to enter the palace to serve nobles wouldn’t be very suitable?”

“Her…” Food Service Officer Qin raised her eyes to gaze at the wisteria in the courtyard, where flowers and leaves swayed gracefully, casting half-bright, half-dim light and shadow. “Medicine and food share the same source. Pharmacology is a field Royal Kitchen internal members will eventually need to involve themselves in. But being proficient in pharmacology, like being understanding, each has advantages and disadvantages. Whether it’s good or bad depends on the user’s intentions. Saving the world and rescuing people, or bringing harm to all living beings, often lies in the user’s single thought. To judge a person’s moral character in two days is very difficult, so I simply don’t select. When I think I understand a student enough and believe her character is pure and good, only then will I suggest she study pharmacology.”

The next day, a young eunuch came from the government office to convey the good news of selection to Zhenzhen, requiring her to immediately move into the lodge where Food Service Officer Qin and other female officials were staying to study etiquette in preparation for entering the palace. Zhenzhen was very delighted, and Uncle Pu and Xiang Ye came forward to congratulate her one after another, all showing joy on their faces. Zhenzhen immediately thought of Feng Xian and asked the young eunuch if Feng Xian was also selected. The young eunuch looked embarrassed and said: “Not yet known…” Glancing at Feng Xian beside them, who remained silent but maintained a polite smile, he comfortingly added: “Please be patient, ladies. Perhaps Food Service Officer Qin is still deliberating, and when she’s decided, she’ll send someone to announce the good news.”

After the young eunuch left, Zhenzhen comforted Feng Xian as he had suggested, telling her to wait quietly for good news. Feng Xian smiled and didn’t respond to this, only saying warmly to Zhenzhen: “Come, let me help you pack your luggage, then I’ll take you to the lodge later.”

According to the young eunuch, from now on, all clothing and daily necessities Zhenzhen needed would be prepared by others, consistent with Royal Kitchen internal members. Therefore, Zhenzhen didn’t have much luggage to bring. After thinking it over, besides her self-made cooking utensils, she only brought some mementos related to her mother and the cookbook Lin Hong had given her. Seeing Lin Hong’s handwritten notes, Zhenzhen suddenly remembered the cookbook that had enabled her to create the extravagant wedding cancellation feast. Qiu Niang had left hastily without taking any belongings. When Zhenzhen later moved to Uncle Pu’s small courtyard and sorted through Qiu Niang’s room, she had also found that book and locked it in a wooden chest to bring along. Now she opened the chest, retrieved it again, stored it together with Lin Hong’s work, and brought them both to the lodge.

Feng Xian escorted Zhenzhen to the lodge and at the lodge entrance encountered Zhao Ai, who had just returned from an outing in the suburbs. Whip raised, astride his horse, bright eyes smiling, he still had that carefree, proud appearance. Around the hooves of his fine horse, half-stained with spring mud, two butterflies even danced gracefully.

Zhenzhen looked sideways very disdainfully and whispered to Feng Xian: “Idle all day, not attending to proper business.”

Zhao Ai seemed to hear her words and dismounted in front of them with a smile, saying to Zhenzhen: “For an idle prince, entertainment is proper business.”

Under Feng Xian’s guidance, Zhenzhen reluctantly curtsied to him, then coldly took her leave. Zhao Ai glanced at the lodge she was about to enter and congratulated her with a smile: “Congratulations. Please take care of me in the future.”

During the final day when the women competed, he had also been at Yibei Lou, hidden in the VIP pavilion without showing himself, but he could see what happened in the courtyard. Eunuchs also reported events in the kitchen to him, so he roughly knew the proceedings.

Feng Xian smiled: “Zhenzhen is entering the palace, so naturally she should ask Second Prince to take care of her. Why is Second Prince instead asking her to take care of you?”

Zhao Ai said: “Food is heaven. Since Royal Kitchen internal members control food and drink, whether for flavor or safety, I can’t afford to offend them.”

His words didn’t sound entirely like a joke. Zhenzhen silently looked at him and saw his gaze fixed on her contained no playful intent. Not knowing what he was thinking of, the light in his eyes hidden beneath half-lowered lashes quietly faded, allowing her to catch what seemed like melancholy emotion.

However, it was only a brief moment. He quickly recovered his spirited appearance and said to her gently: “Go in quickly. I hope to see you in the palace soon.”

Zhenzhen nodded, bid farewell to Feng Xian, and walked inside carrying her luggage. Zhao Ai and Feng Xian stood in place watching her until her figure disappeared behind the lodge’s spirit wall.

Just as Zhao Ai was about to mount his horse and leave, Feng Xian quickly stepped forward and called to him.

Zhao Ai turned and asked: “What instruction does Miss Ling have?”

Feng Xian bashfully lowered her head and said softly: “Feng Xian has a presumptuous request…”

Zhao Ai, seeing the previous situation between the two women, had already guessed Feng Xian wasn’t selected, so he asked: “Do you want me to recommend you to Food Service Officer Qin? It’s just that this selection of internal members is the Royal Kitchen’s responsibility. I have no authority to interfere. If I forcibly intervene, the official family will surely be displeased…”

“No, no!” Feng Xian immediately denied, then slowed her speech and said earnestly: “Feng Xian knows she lacks the fortune to enter the palace and would never dare harbor improper thoughts or ask the Prince to speak well of me. However, I’ve practiced culinary skills for many years and prepared diligently for this competition for a long time. I feel I had no faults in the competition process, yet I don’t know why I wasn’t selected. So Feng Xian boldly hopes the Prince will help me ask Food Service Officer Qin the reason for my rejection. Not to reverse the result, but just to understand where my shortcomings are so I can improve in the future.”

Zhao Ai remained noncommittal and was silent for a moment before asking her: “Miss Ling, forgive my directness, but you come from an official family and could easily marry a suitable husband. Why must you insist on taking the Royal Kitchen examination to seek an opportunity to serve others?”

“Marry a… suitable husband…” Feng Xian bit her lower lip and smiled sadly. “If I can’t pass the Royal Kitchen examination, Father will marry me to… Yin Qi.”

Zhao Ai naturally knew who Yin Qi was and instantly understood Feng Xian’s helplessness and despair. After contemplating in silent confrontation with her, he finally agreed: “Fine, I’ll ask Food Service Officer Qin.”

Food Service Officer Qin was still at the government office, organizing this selection’s files with County Magistrate Shen. Suddenly a young eunuch entered and presented her with a letter written in Zhao Ai’s own hand.

After reading it, Food Service Officer Qin’s expression was grave as she frowned in thought. Seeing this, County Magistrate Shen asked what had happened. Food Service Officer Qin said Second Prince wanted to know the reason for Ling Feng Xian’s rejection. County Magistrate Shen was immediately greatly alarmed: “Second Prince’s personal letter inquiry means this woman must be extraordinary to him. Seeing her rejection, Second Prince is quite disappointed, so he specially inquired, hinting for Madam to select her.”

Food Service Officer Qin said: “Second Prince claims he only met Ling Feng Xian once and was entrusted by her to simply want to know the reason for rejection.”

County Magistrate Shen repeatedly shook his head: “How could it be that simple! Would you have Second Prince openly say he favors this woman and earnestly hopes she’ll enter the palace? He’s a prince – naturally when he likes a common girl, he must appear nonchalant. But we can’t take his words at face value and think this girl is insignificant.”

Seeing Food Service Officer Qin remain silent, County Magistrate Shen continued earnestly advising: “Madam adhering to principles is naturally correct, but you must know that water too clear has no fish. Madam serves in the palace and can’t be unaware of this. Second Prince is imperial nobility and also the person closest to the throne besides the Crown Prince. Planning ahead, Madam absolutely cannot offend him…”

Seeing Food Service Officer Qin still not taking a position, County Magistrate Shen simply extracted the final round’s candidate list from the just-organized documents, spread it before Food Service Officer Qin, personally ground ink for the Food Service Officer, and while grinding said: “Moreover, that Ling Feng Xian originally had extraordinary culinary skills and is intelligent. Selecting her for the palace – anyone who sees it couldn’t find fault, and no one would say there’s any inside story about Madam selecting two internal members from Pujiang…”

Finally, Food Service Officer Qin sighed deeply, slowly picked up the brush, and made annotations beside Ling Feng Xian’s name.

Several days later, Feng Xian and Zhenzhen joined hands to board the palace carriage bound for Lin’an. Red wheels rolling, bathed in the cold light of winding waters and the clear colors of distant peaks, they crushed over the golden road paved with oil seed rape flowers, carrying these two common girls into the nine-layered palace towers floating in their dreams. They felt relieved while simultaneously facing a great enemy, both realizing that a completely different life from the past was about to thunder open.

In the jolting palace carriage, Zhenzhen took out the cookbook Qiu Niang had left behind to examine, gently stroking the cover, both anticipating and feeling quite apprehensive about the news of Qiu Niang she might learn after entering the palace.

Feng Xian noticed, took the cookbook and flipped through it, judging: “This book wasn’t written by Teacher’s wife, was it? The handwriting doesn’t look like hers.”

Zhenzhen was startled. Previously she had also felt the handwriting didn’t resemble Qiu Niang’s usual script, but on second thought, since this book was written many years ago, it was normal for her mother’s handwriting to have changed, so she hadn’t speculated much. Now that Feng Xian said this, Zhenzhen took the book back to examine closely.

“Though both are small regular script, Teacher’s wife’s characters have obvious strength and bone structure, with side strokes like orchids and bamboo, more like Slender Gold calligraphy. But the characters in this cookbook are much more gentle and rounded, not revealing sharpness, looking like a smiling woman – it should be written by another person,” Feng Xian analyzed.

Zhenzhen flipped through the book page by page, trying to find some clues. The book’s cover was covered by a dark green silk sleeve, making the writing invisible. Zhenzhen opened the carriage window and held the cover toward the sunlight, seeing the transmitted light and shadow were mottled, vaguely discerning some remaining pages still inside the sleeve.

Zhenzhen carefully opened the sleeve and discovered that besides the cover, it wrapped several pages torn mostly away. The cover bore three characters – “The Jade Food Anthology” – and from the sparse content of the remaining pages, what was torn away should have been a preface. The last page of the preface still bore traces of the author, with the final sentence still written in that gentle small regular script: “Respectfully recorded by Food Service Officer Liu.”