"Miss, the items you requested are all here" Shu-er said. I looked at her with a blank stare for a moment until she added, sensing my confusion, "The ingredients you asked us to manage, Miss."
"Ah, right! Store them in a separate room," I said, my excitement rising. "Make sure the temperature is stable, or they might spoil." I immediately turned to Qin-er. "Go prepare sesame seeds, glutinous rice flour, red bean paste, and the brown sugar we made. We are going to make a dessert."
Once in the kitchen, I dissolved the golden-brown sugar in boiling water and made a well in the center of a mound of rice flour. I supervised the stirring until the dough became perfectly tacky. I then demonstrated the technique, pinching off a piece of dough, pressing a deep indentation with my thumb, and using my index fingers to shape it into a small, delicate cup.
After sealing the red bean paste inside and rolling the balls in sesame seeds, the Jian Dui were ready. I set aside portions for my mother and grandmother.
When the first bite touched my tongue, I wanted to shout for joy. The crispy shell, the chewy dough, and the deep sweetness of the red bean paste were a symphony. I couldn't believe I had finally recreated a taste of home.
— At the Matriarch's Courtyard —
After eating my fill, I made my way to the grandmother's courtyard
"Cuizhu Gugu[1], I have prepared a new dessert and wished for Grandmother to try it," I said to her senior maid. Cuizhu had been by my grandmother's side for decades. She was more of a confidante than a servant.
"Very well, Eldest Miss. It is perfect timing, the Old Madam is just about to have her afternoon tea," she replied, leading me inside.
Grandmother, Tang Qian, sat regally at a table spread with various colorful, traditional pastries. I performed a formal bow.
"Granddaughter greets Grandmother. I have made a sweet treat. Please try it and see if it suits your palate."
Grandmother huffed, her eyes cold. "What good could possibly come from you? I would be dead if this were poison."
"Grandmother, how could you say such a thing?" I replied with a practiced, innocent smile.
"It is merely a dessert born from a craving for something sweet."
Internally, I rolled my eyes. Poison her? In this manor? Unless I were looking for a death sentence, I wouldn't dream of it.
Cuizhu Gugu placed the sesame balls on the table and performed the mandatory safety taste-test. Suddenly, her eyes widened.
"Eldest Miss, where did you buy this? Old Madam, it is truly delicious! It is like nothing I have ever tasted."
"I made them myself, Gugu," I replied modestly.
Grandmother looked at me with deep suspicion and doubt, her eyes searching mine for some hidden trick.
Grandmother gingerly lifted the golden ball. She poked at it with her chopsticks first, checking the texture, her expression pinched as if she were inspecting a strange insect rather than a delicacy. She took a small, cautious bite.
The sound of the crispy, sesame-encrusted shell shattering was audible in the quiet room. Then came the soft, chewy resistance of the glutinous rice, and finally, the warm, rich flow of the red bean paste.
I saw her eyes flicke. A split second of genuine surprise. Her chewing slowed down, her brow smoothing out as the complex sweetness of the brown sugar hit her palate. It was a far cry from the dense, overly floury steamed cakes she usually ate.
"Well?" I asked, tilting my head innocently.
She swallowed, regained her composure instantly, and set her chopsticks down with a sharp clack. She wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief, her face returning to its usual mask of stern disapproval.
"Hmph. It is... acceptable," she said, though I noticed her gaze lingered on the remaining three balls on the plate. "A bit too chewy for an old woman's teeth. And the sweetness is quite aggressive. It lacks the refined subtlety of the pastries from the East Market."
Cuizhu Gugu looked at her mistress, then at me, suppressing a smile.
"Old Madam, you've already finished half the plate."
Grandmother glared at her. "I am merely ensuring it isn't wasted! It would be a sin to throw away food, even if it was made by such a clumsy hand."
She turned her sharp eyes back to me.
"Since when did you learn to handle a kitchen fire? A daughter of the Tang family should be practicing her calligraphy and needlework for the Qixi Festival, not smelling of oil and charcoal. Do you intend to become a common cook?"
"I simply thought that if Grandmother was pleased, the ancestors would be pleased as well," I replied, bowing low to hide the smirk on my face. "And as for the Qixi Festival... I believe a clear mind and a full stomach are the best preparations for needlework."
"Words, always words with you lately" Grandmother muttered, though her tone was less biting than before. She gestured dismissively with her hand. "Leave the rest here. Cuizhu, pour me more tea. This... sesame ball is making me thirsty."
As I backed out of the room, I caught Grandmother's hand reaching for the chopsticks again the moment she thought I wasn't looking.
Leaving the Matriarch's sharp tongue behind, I returned to my courtyard just long enough to gather the freshest portion of the sweets.
With Qin-er following close behind, I made my way toward Mother's quarters. My heart felt lighter with every step, I was eager to see her, but even more so to see my little Stone, my Shi-Tou.
Upon arriving, a maid informed me that Mother had taken the baby to the gardens. I found them in a lakeside pavilion, framed by weeping willows.
The scene was so peaceful it felt like a silk painting come to life. Mother sat gracefully on a stone bench, her eyes brimming with a warmth I hadn't seen since I arrived in this era. Before her, Shi-Tou was being guided by a maid, his tiny, unsteady feet wobbling over the grass as they all laughed together.
Without realizing it, a soft smile tugged at my lips.
Shi-Tou was truly a masterpiece of nature. His limbs were as chubby and round as lotus roots, his skin as pale and flawless as fresh snow. His eyes, dark and glistening, looked as though they had been meticulously drawn with the finest ceremonial ink.
"Mother!" I called out, my voice rising with genuine affection. "Shi-Tou, my darling, look who's here!"
At the sound of my voice, his small face snapped toward me. A toothless, joyful grin broke across his face, and he flailed his short arms, desperately trying to propel his little body toward me. I laughed at the sight, his spirit was willing, but his balance was not quite there yet.
"Xian-er, come, sit with us," Mother called, her face glowing.
Before reaching her, I leaned down and scooped my brother up from the maid's arms. He was surprisingly heavy.
"How is my brave little man? Hmm? Have you been a good boy for Mother?" I teased, using a playful tone and gently pinching his nose. It turned a soft, rosy pink instantly, making him giggle.
"He has been quite the handful today,"Mother said, though her smile never wavered. "It is a blessing to see him so energetic. I have continued the seaweed treatments exactly as you instructed."
"That is good, Mother. In another two weeks, we can stop the treatment. The lump on his throat is nearly gone," I reassured her. I gestured to Qin-er, who stepped forward with the plate. "I've prepared a special snack for you to try."
Mother looked at the golden, sesame-crusted balls with curiosity. "You made these? Since when did my daughter learn how to hold a
ladle?"
"I simply experimented a little, and it turned out better than expected," I replied modestly.
Mother reached out, but instead of taking a sweet, she took my hand. Her expression turned solemn and tender. "Xian-er, it gladdens my heart to see you play with your brother like this. Cherish these moments. Two years will pass in the blink of an eye, and soon you will reach a marriageable age..."
The air in my lungs suddenly felt cold. The warmth of the garden vanished, replaced by a phantom chill. In an instant, the memory of the coarse silk, the cold palace floor, and the taste of betrayal flooded back. The fear of being discarded—the terror of being killed by the man I was supposed to love—clawed at my throat.
Sensing my sudden rigidity and the way the blood drained from my face, Mother squeezed my hand. "Don't be afraid, my child. The days are still long, and I am here."
I forced a small, tight smile. Yes, the days are long, I thought, and I will use every one of them to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
To break the tension, I nudged the plate toward her. Mother took a bite, and her eyes widened in immediate shock. "Xian-er! This... this is incredible! The texture, the sweetness... did you truly craft this yourself? It puts the manor's chefs to shame!"
[1] Gūgu - Aunt (It’s a standard respectful term for a senior, high-ranking maid who has served the family for a long time.)