Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Xu Yanmiao realized something was off about the reactions of the servants in this household. Checking his gossip system, he stumbled upon a note: “An official was impeached by a censor for excessive indulgence after washing his face and feet twice daily and bathing every other day.”

It dawned on him—bathing was indeed a hassle in ancient times. Not everyone could live as freely as he did, a bachelor without familial responsibilities, willing to go through the trouble of boiling water for daily washes.

[Looks like I should avoid staying overnight at other people’s houses in the future. Even asking for water to wash my face or feet feels awkward—like I’m being unnecessarily troublesome.]

Xu Yanmiao declined the maids’ assistance, soaked a clean face towel in water, and carefully washed his head, face, and neck. After changing the water, he soaked his feet, wiped down his legs, climbed into bed, and went to sleep.

His internal clock, however, woke him up at three in the morning.

Xu Yanmiao: “…”

After failing to fall back asleep, he quietly got up, asked the servants for toiletries, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and prepared to head to court.

Liu Changshi, who never woke this early, was hastily alerted by the servants. Scrambling to tidy himself, he rushed over just in time to intercept Xu Yanmiao before he left. “Master Xu! Please have some breakfast before you go!”

Breakfast was referred to as a “light meal.”

Liu Changshi then launched into a spiel of self-pity, claiming that if his hospitality fell short, he’d be scolded by his master. He also appeared thoughtful, mentioning that eating on the go would be rushed, whereas taking time to eat here would be gentler on the stomach.

Xu Yanmiao hesitated. “If that’s the case, then I’ll trouble you.”

Liu Changshi beamed. “No trouble at all, no trouble at all!”

As Xu Yanmiao turned back to the residence, Liu Changshi wiped the sweat from his brow and followed closely behind.

But before he could take another step, a hand suddenly shot out from the side and yanked him away.

Liu Changshi: “?!”

He turned to see the Deputy Minister of Justice, and his heart skipped a beat. “Didn’t we agree not to meet privately?”

The moon still hung faintly in the sky, casting a soft and pale glow.

The Deputy Minister’s mood was clearly sour. “Tell me, what exactly is the prince planning? Does he really just want to build a good relationship with Xu Yanmiao?”

Liu Changshi pondered for a moment before deciding not to mention Prince Fu’s ambitions for the throne. Instead, he feigned surprise and retorted, “What else? If we don’t win him over now before he’s fully established, should we wait until his influence grows and then shamelessly try to cozy up? Doesn’t every prince in the court have a few close allies?”

The Deputy Minister exhaled in relief. “That’s for the best.” Then he gave Liu Changshi a stern warning. “Whatever you do, don’t get any reckless ideas. Xu Yanmiao is not someone you can afford to cross.”

“Hmm? Why not?”

“Don’t ask. I can’t tell you. If word spreads, the emperor will know it was me who leaked it.”

The best lies are those that mix truth with falsehood. The Deputy Minister spoke with such conviction that even though Liu Changshi felt uneasy, he refrained from pressing further. Instead, he simply said, “Alright, I won’t ask. I’ll go back to building rapport with Xu Yanmiao.”

In his hurry, Liu Changshi left the Deputy Minister behind, missing the fleetingly expressionless look on his face.

“Prince Fu’s ship…”

The Deputy Minister frowned deeply.

He had boarded too early, and now he wasn’t sure if abandoning ship would cost him dearly—or even hasten his own downfall.

But staying aboard, watching these people interact with Xu Yanmiao, felt like courting disaster.

“Perhaps I should turn down this mission altogether?”

The moment this thought surfaced, the Deputy Minister of Justice immediately suppressed it.

Prince Fu had more than just him under his command; there was no guarantee others wouldn’t act on similar plans. Since he currently had no intention of leaving Prince Fu’s faction, it was better to avoid being sidelined altogether. ℝáNȏꞖЁṦ

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“What does Master Xu like to eat in the morning?”

The host helpfully listed options: “Wontons, bìluó (steamed buns), húbǐng (flatbread), tōngpí noodles, meat-topped noodles, shredded pork noodles…”

After rattling off a variety of noodle dishes, they moved on to meat dishes, followed by offal, desserts, and even sweet alcoholic beverages—an extensive selection.

Xu Yanmiao thought for a moment and replied, “A bowl of shredded pork noodles and a glass of plain water, thank you.”

Soon, steaming hot noodles were served. Made by an accomplished chef, the dish was incredibly fresh and flavorful, with perfectly chewy noodles. Xu Yanmiao’s mood noticeably improved compared to the previous evening.

Liu Changshi suddenly had an epiphany.

It’s food! Xu Yanmiao’s weak spot is food!

He whispered a few instructions to the servants, and once they left, he smiled and asked, “Master Xu, have you ever tried flower dew rice?”

Xu Yanmiao: “?”

Liu Changshi enthusiastically described it: rice steamed with flower dew, resulting in soft, translucent grains infused with a delicate floral sweetness.

“The best varieties use the dew of roses, citron blossoms, or osmanthus flowers.”

Xu Yanmiao’s interest visibly piqued.

Liu Changshi: “!!!”

There’s an opening!

His master, Prince Fu, had a taste for luxury—gourmet food and extravagant clothing. Liu Changshi knew countless lavish recipes.

“And then there’s soft-stuffed ox intestines,” Liu Changshi continued conversationally, pretending to simply chat. “Did you know that the bone marrow inside lamb bones is the most tender? It can be extracted and combined with minced ingredients to stuff into ox intestines. Once cooked, it’s both chewy and richly flavorful.”

Xu Yanmiao’s eyes lit up. “That sounds delicious! What a pity it’s not available in the capital.”

Liu Changshi chuckled. “This is actually a dish invented by Prince Fu. For now, it’s only found in Shaoxing Prefecture. I was fortunate enough to be rewarded with half a bowl.”

He went on to describe many other extravagant and unique delicacies. Xu Yanmiao listened intently, clearly enjoying the conversation. The two ended up having a delightful and engaging exchange, leaving both host and guest pleased.

In a corner out of Xu Yanmiao’s line of sight, a servant stood holding a tray. At this moment, Liu Changshi revealed his true intent.

“Though we lack flower dew rice or soft-stuffed ox intestines, our residence does have a drink called ‘Fragrant Lotus Dew,’” he said, smiling mysteriously. “It’s an extraordinary delicacy you won’t find anywhere else.”

Xu Yanmiao hesitated. “But I’m about to attend court…”

Drinking before court could lead to discomfort—if nature called, holding it in would be unbearable.

Liu Changshi laughed at his concern. “No need to worry, Master Xu. There’s still an hour before court. Drink now, and you’ll have time to visit the latrine beforehand.”

Tempted by curiosity, and with the earlier conversation about delicacies stirring his appetite, Xu Yanmiao finally gave in. “Well then… I’ll trouble you.”

Soon, the Fragrant Lotus Dew was brought in.

During their earlier chat, other officials had come by for breakfast. Overhearing the mention of the drink, they jokingly teased, “Your host is so partial—how could he favor one guest over the rest of us?”

Liu Changshi, ever the diplomat, replied smoothly, “Please forgive me, my esteemed colleagues. Just as lamb requires a sheep, and beef requires a cow, this drink is rare and hurriedly prepared. The ‘Fragrant Lotus’ can only yield four cups at a time—it’s hard to share evenly…”

He followed up with profuse apologies and promised to prepare more for delivery to their residences later, preventing the matter from escalating.

As the drink drew closer, Xu Yanmiao watched with mounting curiosity, full of anticipation.

What kind of exquisite ambrosia is this? If it’s limited to just four cups, it must be extraordinary!

The other officials were equally intrigued, their eyes fixed on the tray.

The name “Fragrant Lotus Dew” was unfamiliar to them.

And then…

Two delicate shoes, resembling crescent moons in the clouds, came into view. Their pointed toes, slightly upturned, looked like prismatic edges.

The officials: “?”

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