During the lunch banquet, Zhenzhen served at the emperor’s side as usual, pre-tasting his food. Several main dishes at the banquet were personally prepared by Liu Jieyu, and Zhenzhen discovered among them Mountain and Sea Pouches and Lotus Pod Fish Wraps. Whether in shape, ingredients, or taste, they were identical to what Lin Hong had made at Wenqiao Inn, leaving her somewhat puzzled. She then realized that since they were siblings, Lin Hong’s culinary skills had very likely been guided by Liu Jieyu, so it wasn’t surprising they could make the same dishes.

During the meal, the emperor frequently raised his cup to drink with Lin Hong, chatting about the Liu family’s affairs. Only then did Zhenzhen gradually learn that Liu Jieyu’s mother and Lin Hong’s father were cousins. When Liu Jieyu was young and orphaned, with no relatives nearby, hearing that Lin Hong’s father served as an official at court, her wet nurse Yu Shi brought her to Lin’an to seek refuge with the Lin family. Only upon arriving in Lin’an did they learn that Lin Hong’s father had been falsely accused by Grand Tutor Qi’s faction for memorializing to impeach the Grand Tutor, and had long since died unjustly in prison. Lin Hong’s mother had already taken him back to her natal family in the Wuyi Mountains. Yu Shi then sent Liu Jieyu to the Wuyi Mountains. Soon after, Lin Hong’s mother died of illness, and from then on the two orphans depended on each other. Liu Jieyu was three years older than Lin Hong, caring for him like an elder sister and mother until she was selected for the palace at eighteen.

“When I was at home, Brother Ning was still a thin, small child. After years of separation, I didn’t expect he would grow so tall,” Liu Jieyu said, looking at Lin Hong with emotion. After studying him for a moment, she smiled again: “Only, he’s still thin.”

Zhenzhen thought to herself that Teacher Lin’s childhood name was “Brother Ning” – she had never heard anyone mention this before. The emperor also noticed this, asking Liu Jieyu: “The Propagator of Righteousness’s childhood name is ‘Brother Ning’?”

Liu Jieyu answered: “His original name was Hong Ning, and family members called him Brother Ning. Later, somehow, he changed his name himself, removing the ‘Ning’ character. Starting from the year he took the imperial examination, his formal name became Lin Hong.”

Lin Hong smiled faintly upon hearing this: “Lin Hong Ning was indeed rather awkward to pronounce.”

After the meal, they waited briefly before Lin Hong bowed to the emperor: “Dongpo’s poem says: ‘After meals, tea bowls taste deepest.’ This subject brought some new tea from the Wuyi Mountains. If Your Majesty doesn’t disdain it, this subject would like to brew tea for Your Majesty and the Liu Jieyu to taste.”

The emperor naturally agreed, so Liu Jieyu ordered people to set up tea implements, bringing tea grinders, tea whisks, and other utensils. But Lin Hong said they weren’t necessary, taking only a water-boiling pot, filling it with spring water, and taking an appropriate amount of tea leaves from a small silver jar he had brought, placing them in the pot and setting it over a tea stove to boil with active fire.

“This is spring tea from the Wuyi Mountains this year. This subject personally picked and roasted it, taking only new buds. Boiled with living water and active fire, it best develops the medicinal properties and benefits body and mind,” Lin Hong said.

When the tea broth boiled and the sound in the pot was like wind through pine forests, Lin Hong lifted the pot from the fire, placed it on the tea cloth on the table for a moment, then poured it into tea cups, presenting them respectively to the emperor and Liu Jieyu. He didn’t forget to fill a cup and bring it before Zhenzhen, bowing: “Please Manager Wu taste first.”

Respectfully proper – today he maintained perfect etiquette in her presence.

Zhenzhen rose and returned the bow, then sat down to taste the tea. She found the tea broth clear and cool, smooth at the entrance with a lingering fragrance. Zhenzhen bowed to the emperor and nodded with a smile, so the emperor raised his cup and tasted carefully, saying after a moment: “The palace mostly grinds tea cakes for whisked tea. Even when we occasionally boil tea, we add salt and tea fruits, but none compare to this tea’s pure sweetness.”

Lin Hong said: “If tea is mixed with salt or fruits, it loses its true taste. Whisked tea is strong in flavor and cold in nature – drinking too much also harms the spleen and stomach. Brewing tea leaves produces a mild tea broth, better for health cultivation.”

The emperor smiled: “Before Zhao Huaiyu left the capital, I hosted a farewell banquet for him. I heard him speak of dietary principles and found them quite reasonable. He said he had received your guidance and learned to make several excellent dishes. Now I see you are indeed skilled in this art.”

Before Lin Hong could respond, Liu Jieyu’s phoenix eyes widened as she looked at him in surprise: “Brother Ning, when did you learn to cook?”

Lin Hong only smiled politely and lowered his head without speaking.

Liu Jieyu turned to the emperor: “My younger brother only knew how to study back then – I did all the household tasks. I cooked for him every day, and though he often followed behind me watching, he never lifted a finger to help.”

She spoke with somewhat coquettish complaint, even forgetting to address herself as “this subject” before His Majesty, but her glance toward Lin Hong was smiling.

The emperor patted her extended hand and smiled: “A gentleman stays far from the kitchen. He’s a scholar, and you’re his sister – it’s natural for you to cook for him, and he’s beyond reproach for not helping. I imagine after you entered the palace, with no one able to make food like yours, he had to do it himself.”

Liu Jieyu laughed: “Your Majesty speaks reasonably.”

Lin Hong also smiled slightly, but his eyes remained lowered. Zhenzhen observed carefully and felt there was no joyful light in his eyes hidden beneath his lashes.

The emperor said he hoped to have the opportunity to taste Lin Hong’s excellent cooking in the future, so Liu Jieyu smiled: “No need to wait – today Brother Ning can present Your Majesty with a tea accompaniment.”

The emperor asked curiously: “What is it?”

Liu Jieyu said: “This dish is called ‘Silver Thread Offering.'” Then, looking at Lin Hong, she instructed: “Be sure to harmonize it well, and let it have true flavor.”

Lin Hong understood and nodded in acceptance.

Liu Jieyu quietly instructed a palace lady beside her, who took the order and left. Shortly after, she brought a qin from the inner room, set it up properly, and asked Lin Hong to play.

Lin Hong sat down and calmly tuned the strings. Soon, ethereal music like phoenix cries and crane calls flowed from under his fingers, and he sang melodiously: “In the morning I drink the fallen dew of magnolia, in the evening I dine on the fallen petals of autumn chrysanthemums. If my feelings are truly beautiful and pure, what harm is there in being gaunt and thin?”

When the piece ended, the emperor clapped in admiration: “Dongpo Jushi once said: ‘In qin and books there is true flavor.’ Today, hearing you play the qin and sing ‘Li Sao,’ I finally understand this deep meaning. This ‘Silver Thread Offering’ has excellent flavor – marvelous, marvelous!”

The three continued drinking tea and conversing. Later, seeing the day growing late, the emperor told Lin Hong to return to his residence outside the palace to rest. Looking around, he finally said to Zhenzhen: “I’m staying at Hibiscus Pavilion today. You needn’t attend me – return to the Royal Kitchen early, and escort the Propagator of Righteousness to the palace gate while you’re at it. Lin’an’s palace gardens aren’t as flat as Kaifeng’s – the mountain paths are winding, so don’t let him get lost.”

Zhenzhen agreed. Lin Hong bowed farewell and left with Zhenzhen. Liu Jieyu rose to see them off, and after leaving the hall, she called to Lin Hong: “This Hibiscus Pavilion garden was built according to my preferences. Come look and see what’s not good and might need changing.”

She guided Lin Hong to follow her to the terrace balustrade, about ten feet from Zhenzhen and the other attendants and palace people. Smiling as she looked down at the garden below, what she said was no longer about the garden: “Haven’t these years been good? Why do you look so haggard?”

Lin Hong bowed: “Thank you for Liu Jieyu’s concern. Hong has been drawing plans through the night recently, which may have affected my complexion, but I haven’t stopped eating and there’s no serious problem. Rather, Liu Jieyu mentioned in her letter that you weren’t well after childbirth – I wonder how you are now?”

Liu Jieyu said: “I’m fine, fully recovered long ago.” Seeing Lin Hong frown slightly as he looked at her, seeming not to believe, she smiled: “If I hadn’t said that, would you have come?”

Lin Hong was speechless, quietly stepped back, and stood with lowered eyes. After a moment he said: “Since Liu Jieyu is well, this foolish brother is at peace.”

Liu Jieyu sighed softly: “At home before, you didn’t like calling me sister, always addressing me by name without proper respect, which rather annoyed me. Now hearing you call me ‘Liu Jieyu’ repeatedly feels very strange, as if you’re addressing someone else – so distant.”

Seeing him remain silent, she turned her head toward