Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

After being skinned, the duck feet had plumped up nicely from the yellow wine, looking tender and chewy.

Watching his son skillfully remove the main bone and tendons from the duck feet, Liang Rui narrowed his eyes. “Did you learn this for Grand Madam?”

His eldest son, who had been silent ever since he started cooking, finally spoke. “Mm. Later, I’ll sandwich the duck feet with ham, coat the bamboo shoots with honey, and slow-steam everything until it’s soft, fragrant, and rich in flavor.”

Liang Rui said flatly, “You might not get the chance to cook for the Grand Madam.”

Liang Youwen smiled. “Father, haven’t you always taught my brother and me to plan carefully before taking action? No matter the outcome, I should at least prepare everything first.”

Liang Rui fell silent again, simply watching his son focus intently on cooking.

After a while, he suddenly spoke. “Other things are impossible, but if all you want is to cook a meal for the Grand Madam, I can ask Prime Minister Dou for a favor.”

Liang Youwen’s eyes lit up. He immediately dropped the spatula and sat down beside Liang Rui. “Father! Are you serious?”

Liang Rui shot him a glare. “Only under the guise of a gratitude gift—don’t get any strange ideas. Remember, the Grand Madam doesn’t lack cooks.”

Liang Youwen nodded firmly. “I understand, Father. I just want to make her a meal. I won’t ask for anything else.”

---

Three days later, on New Year’s Eve, Grand Madam Yuchi enjoyed a delicious reunion dinner.

Beaming with joy, she rewarded the cook and then cuddled her granddaughter, listening to the child’s crisp voice as she excitedly chattered:

“Grandmother, you wouldn’t believe my luck at Uncle’s house the other day! They had just harvested fresh winter dates, and I ate a whole basket in one go! So crunchy and sweet! That kind of coincidence almost never happens!”

The Grand Madam chuckled and tapped the little girl’s forehead. “You little glutton.”

Her granddaughter fished a handful of winter dates from her pocket. “Grandmother, I brought some for you! Try them—they’re delicious!”

Though old, the Grand Madam still had strong teeth. She bit into a date, savoring its sweet flesh, and smiled contentedly.

Surrounding her were her surviving siblings and their spouses, her children and in-laws, her nephews and nieces—all kneeling to offer her tea in filial respect. The room was bustling with lively conversation and laughter.

One granddaughter recited poetry with a proud shake of her head. After each poem, the Grand Madam handed her a red envelope.

A grandson performed acrobatics to entertain her, flipping in the air. The Grand Madam laughed and rewarded him with another red envelope.

Her grandson-in-law made himself at home, bossing the steward around: “I want sticky rice cakes! I want rice noodles! I want tofu! I want New Year’s cake!”

Other grandchildren ran wild through the courtyard, playing and shouting…

“How wonderful.”

From afar, Liang Youwen watched the scene, clutching the reward money in his hands, smiling as he quietly turned to leave.

---

[How wonderful…]

As Xu Yanmiao scrolled through his gossip network, he suddenly froze, his gaze lingering on this moment.

[Such a lively New Year’s Eve.]

Even though Xu Yanmiao was also celebrating in the palace with other ministers, it just didn’t feel the same.

The young man lowered his head slightly, his gaze resting on the faint ripples in his cup of water. It was unclear whether he was seeing the reflection of bustling streets or towering buildings.

The old emperor, having heard his unspoken thoughts, glanced at Xu Yanmiao from a distance. Leaning on the armrest, he stood up.

No one paid attention to the emperor rising from his seat.

—It was the same every year. Around this time, the emperor would call the empress and his children to spend the New Year’s countdown together in private.

A moment later, a eunuch approached Xu Yanmiao. “Lord Xu, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Xu Yanmiao was stunned for a moment before rising to follow the eunuch.

After winding through several corridors, they reached the boundary of the harem. Xu Yanmiao abruptly stopped, alarmed. “Wait, this…”

[No way? Again?!]

[He’s not going to set me up with another palace maid, is he?!]

Just then, the old emperor’s impatient voice rang out. “What are you standing there for? Get over here already!”

Xu Yanmiao let out a huge sigh of relief and jogged over. “Your Majesty?”

“Follow me.”

The old emperor tossed out the command and strode ahead. Xu Yanmiao, still utterly confused, could only trail behind him.

They walked and walked until they reached a brightly lit hall.

Suddenly, the Prince of Tang came running out with heavy footsteps. “Father! Where did you go? Why are you so slow—Eh?! You’re… You’re that guy!”

Xu Yanmiao cupped his hands in greeting. “Xu Yanmiao greets Your Highness.”

The Prince of Tang grinned. “So you really are my father’s secret—mmph mmph mmph!”

[Huh? Secret what?!]

The Crown Prince swiftly covered the younger prince’s mouth and dragged him away. Before disappearing, he turned back and smiled at Xu Yanmiao. “Since my father brought you here, just come in and make yourself comfortable.”

Xu Yanmiao was even more confused now.

Following the old emperor inside, he saw Empress Dou seated at a large round table, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Prince of Qin, Prince of Han, and the now-muffled Prince of Tang, who was still grumbling after his “lesson.” Princess Wangshou, Princess Qinghe, and Princess Xiangyang were also present.

Further back, more of the emperor’s children sat at another large round table.

The old emperor took his seat at the head and gestured for Xu Yanmiao to sit on his right-hand side. Then he called out, “Time to serve the dumplings!”

Palace servants brought steaming dumplings, carefully placing a bowl in front of each person.

The old emperor picked up a dumpling and took a bite. “Hey! Why is this tofu and vermicelli filling? Where are my pickled cabbage and pork crackling dumplings?!”

He grumbled indignantly, “Pork crackling dumplings are the best! You take a long strip of fatty pork, dice it up, and slowly render it over low heat. Add a bit of salt, and once all the fat has melted out, the remaining cracklings are so fragrant they practically melt on your tongue!”

Xu Yanmiao stared blankly at the dumplings in his bowl.

The others had already started eating.

Xu Yanmiao picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. His dumpling was indeed filled with pickled cabbage and pork cracklings. As he bit down, the rich oil oozed out.

Meanwhile, the old emperor continued his storytelling, “You all have it good now. When I was a kid, I used to crave dumplings so badly. Whenever my parents went out to work in the fields, my siblings and I would sneak some flour from home to make dumplings.”

“We were always afraid they’d come back suddenly, so our hands were shaking the whole time. We could never get the fire going properly.”

“I got so anxious that I kept jabbing at the stove with the fire poker, but instead of flames, I ended up with a face full of smoke—eyes and nose streaming from the irritation.”

“Eventually, we managed to get a small fire going and hurriedly dumped the dumplings into the pot. But the water never came to a full boil. After half an hour, the dumplings had turned into a pot of wild vegetable soup. Still, my siblings and I ate it happily, licking our bowls clean.”

Listening to the story, Xu Yanmiao continued eating. The dumpling skins were thin, and the fillings were generous. He downed seven or eight in one go and still felt unsatisfied.

Across the hall, the emperor’s large family—dozens of people—were all gathered around, eating dumplings together.

As he chewed, Xu Yanmiao suddenly bit down on something hard. Spitting it out, he found a small coin.

Princess Xiangyang clapped her hands and laughed. “Xu Yanmiao, you got the lucky coin! That means wealth and prosperity in the coming year!”

Outside the window, snowflakes swirled through the air.

Suddenly—“Duang—”

A loud, resounding bell chime rang out.

The new year had arrived!

Xu Yanmiao felt something placed on his head.

It was a ceremonial crown.

He looked up in shock and saw the old emperor gazing at him with a slight smile.

“Xu Yanmiao, congratulations—you’ve come of age.”

—In the 35th year of Tian Tong, at the age of twenty, Xu Lang reached adulthood.

---

Liang Youwen, I, Xu Yanmiao, acknowledge you as the strongest!

(Hidden Naruto reference)

---

At Tong He Tang, there used to be a signature dish called “Heavenly Ladder Duck Feet.” Although the author had been acquainted with the restaurant for years, they had only tasted it once.

The preparation involved taking duck feet from fattened ducks, peeling off the thick skin, and soaking them in yellow wine until they swelled up—plump and chubby like a baby’s fingers. The main bone and tendons were then carefully removed.

Each duck foot was paired with a slice of half-fat, half-lean ham, cut two fen thick (approximately 6 mm). Spring bamboo shoots, also sliced, were coated in honey and bundled together with the duck feet and ham using strips of seaweed. The bundle was then steamed over low heat until thoroughly tender.

As the ham’s oils and the honey seeped into the duck feet and bamboo shoots, the dish became exceptionally tender and flavorful. Compared to Xiangguan’s rich ham dish, which was already heavy and filling, the additional honey lotus base elevated “Heavenly Ladder Duck Feet” to a whole new level of refinement.

Since the closure of Tong He Tang in the 20th year of the Republic of China, this dish has long been lost. Today, even its name is barely remembered.

—From Beijing: The Golden Years of the Four-Nine City

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