Hearing this, Ming Lingyi chuckled. Her long, slender, snow-white fingers—hands that looked as if they had never cooked a day in their life—pressed down on a stalk of green onion. With even, forceful motions, she chopped it into fine pieces. "We can eat in fifteen minutes, at most."
Xiao Chun's curiosity about her lady's culinary skills was finally piqued. "Miss, this sesame paste noodle dish you mentioned... what kind of noodles is it?"
She had never even heard of it.
There were plenty of noodle shops on every street corner, serving all sorts of dishes like three-delicacy noodles, lamb soup noodles, and pea noodles, but what were these sesame paste noodles?
Ming Lingyi put the chopped green onions, minced garlic, chili powder, and a few sesame seeds into a large bowl. She heated oil in a wok until it was scorching hot, then poured it into the bowl. A series of loud SIZZLES erupted as the blistering oil instantly awakened the aromas of the green onion, garlic, and chili powder, sending them wafting through the air.
"It smells so good, so good!" Xiao Chun couldn't help but sniff the air eagerly.
Freshly ground sesame paste is sealed in an earthenware jar and left to rest, allowing the oil and solid particles to quietly meld.
Ming Lingyi used this time to make a sweet and sticky sauce by simmering soy sauce with the white parts of scallions and malt sugar. She then poured this into the large bowl containing the aromatics that had been flash-fried in hot oil. Finally, she added a couple of drops of numbing Sichuan peppercorn oil and aromatic vinegar. As she stirred it all together, the layers of flavor became even more distinct, releasing an indescribable fragrance that made one's mouth water.
Xiao Chun, at least, felt she was swallowing far too often. She was a little embarrassed, thinking the sound of her gulping was probably too loud.
"Get the noodles. Boil the water," Ming Lingyi instructed Xiao Chun to prepare the noodles.
Although the blended sesame paste had rested only briefly, its complex aroma was already mellow and full-bodied when the lid was opened.
Ming Lingyi scooped a large spoonful of the blended paste into the large bowl with the sauce and oil, stirred it, and then added the freshly boiled noodles, mixing them thoroughly.
Xiao Chun stood to the side, her eyes fixed on the white porcelain bowl. In it, the noodles were coiled like a nest of jade belts, each strand distinct. The amber-colored sesame sauce, dotted with fine sesame seeds, slid slowly from the peak of the noodle mountain like molten gold foil, seeping into the gaps between the strands with an alluring sheen.
Every single strand seemed to be coated in the rich sesame sauce. The fragrance of sesame mixed with the pungent scent of garlic assailed her nostrils, pierced by a refreshing wisp of rice vinegar.
Her lady had also blanched a handful of bean sprouts for the noodles.
"This bowl of noodles really should have some shredded cucumber," Ming Lingyi muttered to herself as she worked.
But it was the wrong season. Finding small cucumbers in the middle of winter was nearly impossible.
Xiao Chun couldn't care less about shredded cucumber. Just from the smell and the sight of the bowl of noodles, she knew it had to be delicious.
Her gaze was fixed so intently on the chopsticks in Ming Lingyi's hands that she wished she could snatch the bowl and chopsticks away. She was certain she could mix it all much faster.
Finally, a bowl was placed in front of Xiao Chun. Ming Lingyi had transferred more than half of the noodles from the large bowl into it. "Have a taste."
The words had barely left her lips when Xiao Chun had already lifted a huge clump of sesame noodles with her chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth.
As she lifted the noodles, the sticky sesame sauce stretched into golden threads, the noodles bouncing delicately on the tips of her chopsticks. The first taste was the rich, mellow flavor of sesame spreading across her tongue, followed by a hidden spiciness. The Sichuan peppercorn oil left a slight numbness in her throat, but what lingered most was the fragrance.
Xiao Chun was eating so fast she couldn't even distinguish all the flavors before she was impatiently lifting another mouthful from the bowl to her lips.
Previously, her mistress's father had owned a restaurant, so following such a good-tempered lady, Xiao Chun had never had to worry about food or drink.
Serving by her lady's side, she, a mere maid, even got to eat meat at every meal.
But Xiao Chun had never imagined that a simple bowl of vegetarian noodles—one without a single scrap of meat—could be so delicious, so incredibly fragrant! It was even better than any of the braised meat noodles she had ever eaten!
Ming Lingyi also loved sesame paste noodles. She had learned to make the dish back when she was in the Great Desert. Her family had hired a chef from the Yan Zhao region, who told her about a local noodle dish. Ming Lingyi fell in love with the taste and picked up a few tricks from him.
But as much as she loved the dish, her pace and posture while eating remained as they always were: slow and methodical, chewing each mouthful thoroughly before gently swallowing.
And so, by the time Ming Lingyi had eaten less than half of her smaller portion, Xiao Chun, sitting opposite her, had already finished everything. She had even fished the last two bean sprouts out of the pot and scraped her bowl clean.
Sensing Xiao Chun's gaze, Ming Lingyi looked up. "Is it good?" she asked with a smile.
Before Xiao Chun could answer, she let out a loud, satisfied burp.
"You're amazing, Miss!" Xiao Chun said, a little sheepishly. She had eaten too much, too quickly, and now she had embarrassed herself in front of her lady.
As she said this, she licked her lips, clearly wanting more.
Ming Lingyi said, "I'm glad you like it."
She didn't bother asking if Xiao Chun was full. After all, the burp had said it all.
"When did you learn to cook, Miss? I've never seen you do it before!" Xiao Chun asked, puzzled.
Ming Lingyi's hand, holding her noodles, paused for a moment. "I read it all in a book," she said. "This was my first time trying, but it seems to have turned out quite well."
Xiao Chun didn't doubt her for a second. "Of course it did. You're brilliant at everything, Miss."
'This plump girl is a real flatterer,' Ming Lingyi realized.
A dazed look suddenly filled her eyes.
Xiao Chun's adoring expression reminded her of Yu Yi and Yanxia, the maids who had once served by her side.
Back then, she had brought her two closest chief palace maids into the palace with her. She had thought that with her status as the Empress, protecting them would be a simple matter.
'But life is unpredictable, and I ultimately overestimated myself. In the depths of the palace, I couldn't even protect myself. How could I possibly have protected those around me?'
Thinking of the fate of the staff in Kunning Palace after she was gone, Ming Lingyi couldn't help but sigh.
She wondered how Yu Yi and Yanxia were doing now. The memory of Yu Yi, wanting to march to Penglai Palace and demand justice from Chen Fei as she herself lay dying, surfaced in her mind, and she dared not dwell on it.
"Achoo!"
At that very moment, in the Crown Prince Mansion, Yu Yi couldn't help but sneeze.
She had once been a Chief Palace Maid of Kunning Palace. But after her mistress, the Empress, passed away, the Emperor—who had galloped his horse through the palace city that night to rush back—arranged for her to serve the Crown Prince.
After the Crown Prince began his formal studies, he did not reside in the Eastern Palace within the palace walls. Instead, he moved out to live in Fuxing Square. The location was close to both the Imperial City and the palace, and it was also very near the Imperial College.
The Emperor had arranged tutors for the Crown Prince but did not have him study alone in the palace. Instead, he was to attend classes with the students of the Imperial College, reporting on time every day.
The Emperor wouldn't have objected if the Crown Prince had chosen to commute from the Eastern Palace to the Imperial College each day, but the Crown Prince himself had opted to live outside the palace.
After all, living outside the palace was much closer to the Imperial College, and the Little Crown Prince was still so small he felt he could never get enough sleep.
One had to wonder if the Emperor had already considered this when he made the arrangements.
"Aunt Yu Yi, are you feeling unwell? Shall I summon an Imperial Physician to have a look at you?" asked the Crown Prince, Li Yan. He had heard her sneeze several times and looked up from his desk in the study, where he was still practicing his calligraphy late into the night.
Although he tried his best to sound serious and majestic, the voice of a five-year-old was still high-pitched and child-like, making him sound rather adorable.