Early this morning, Jade tugged on my sleeve, looking anxious as she said something.

"Fenglin! Fenglin! Wake up quickly! Something big has happened!"


I groggily opened my eyes and saw Jade's worried face leaning close to mine.

"What is it? What's happened again?" I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Last night's events had left me tense, and I hadn't fallen asleep until very late.

"The Empress Dowager has fallen ill!" Jade whispered, "It’s been several days since she’s eaten or drunk anything, and the imperial physicians are at a loss!"


The Empress Dowager? In my mind, I pictured the elderly woman, always dignified and kind. Although she wasn’t the current emperor’s birth mother, her status in the palace was highly revered, and everyone held her in awe.

"What illness could be so serious?" I asked with concern.


"I don’t know," Jade shook her head, "The physicians say her pulse is normal, and there’s nothing physically wrong, but the Empress Dowager simply refuses to eat. She lies in bed all day, staring blankly."

Not willing to eat? As a chef, hearing such words makes me worry uncontrollably. No matter the reason, not eating can be fatal!

I quickly finished washing up and was about to head to the imperial kitchen when I encountered Starson in the hallway.

"Fenglin," his voice was still as calm as ever, but I could sense a hidden gravity within it.

"Lord Starson!" I immediately bowed in greeting.

"Come with me, there's something I need to discuss with you."

I followed Starson to a secluded small garden. It was planted with many plum blossoms, now in full bloom, and the faint fragrance of the flowers brought a sense of tranquility.

"Have you heard about the Empress Dowager's illness?" Starson began.

"Yes, Jade told me. Why is she refusing to eat?"

Starson remained silent for a moment before softly saying, "Because it's a matter of the heart."

"A matter of the heart?"

"The Empress Dowager is longing for her homeland." A hint of complex emotion flashed in Starson's eyes. "You may not know this, but the Empress Dowager is not originally from our Flameheart. She was once a princess of the Southern Chu Kingdom. After Southern Chu was destroyed, she was sent as a political bride to marry the late Emperor."

The Southern Chu Kingdom? I remember seeing that name in some ancient books. It was a small kingdom renowned for its cultural prosperity, but unfortunately, it was destroyed during the turmoil of war.

"Then why is she suddenly...?"

"Because yesterday was the Spring Festival of Southern Chu," Starson's voice was soft, as if afraid to disturb something. "Every year at this time, the Empress Dowager becomes particularly homesick. But this year seems especially severe."

The Spring Festival... I recalled the moonlight last night; it was exceptionally bright indeed.

"Is there anything we can do?" I asked urgently.

Starson glanced at me, with a certain expectation in her eyes: "Perhaps you can try."

"Me?"

"Didn't you say that food can heal the heart?"

Ah! He actually remembered what I said! Although it’s a bit embarrassing, I truly believe this. Food is not just something to fill the stomach; it’s a bridge that connects hearts.

"I want to try!" I said firmly.

Starson nodded: "Then get ready, I’ll arrange for you to enter the Empress Dowager’s chamber later."

Enter the Empress Dowager’s chamber? Oh my goodness! That’s a place I usually wouldn’t even dare to think about!

But to help the Empress Dowager, I must give it a try!

In the afternoon, I followed Starson to the Empress Dowager’s chamber—Ci Ning Palace.

It was much quieter than I had imagined, even walking required light footsteps. The palace maids all looked solemn, busy quietly.

"The Empress Dowager is inside," an elderly matron said to me, "Young lady, you must be careful. Her Majesty has been in a bad mood these days."

I nodded and tiptoed into the inner chamber.

The room was dim, with heavy drapes blocking most of the sunlight. I saw the Empress Dowager lying quietly on the bed. Her once plump face now looked somewhat haggard, and her eyes gazed at the ceiling with a deeply lonely expression.

"Empress Dowager, your servant Fenglin pays her respects," I said softly.

The Empress Dowager slowly turned her head to look at me, her eyes somewhat distant. "You’re... that girl from the imperial kitchen?"

"Yes, your servant heard that Your Majesty is unwell and came specially to prepare meals for you."

The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. "This old one doesn’t want to eat. You may leave."

"Empress Dowager, not eating is bad for your health. Even just some porridge would be good," I urged anxiously.

"Porridge?" Something flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, but it quickly dimmed again. "Forget it, you wouldn’t understand."

What wouldn’t I understand? I wondered silently but did not press further.

For the next few days, I will come to the Cining Palace to accompany the Empress Dowager. Although she still refuses to eat properly, she seems less resistant to my presence.

I did not force her to eat any delicacies but simply stayed quietly by her side, sometimes chatting with the old palace maids and listening to their stories about the Empress Dowager in her youth.

"Our old mistress was so beautiful when she was young," an old maid named Ruyi said to me. "When she first entered the palace, she walked as lightly as if she were dancing."

"What did she like most back then?" I asked curiously.

"She liked plum blossoms, snowy days, and..." Ruyi paused, glanced toward the inner room, and lowered her voice. "She also missed the snacks from her hometown. She often said she longed for the taste of home."

The taste of home...

I began to pay attention to the furnishings in the Empress Dowager's bedchamber. In a less conspicuous corner, I found a small scroll painting. It depicted a plum grove in the snow, its style somewhat different from the landscape paintings of our Flameheart Dynasty, more delicate and elegant.

On the dressing table, there was also a delicate small porcelain bowl with a unique pattern at the bottom. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the pattern resembled a lotus but wasn't quite the same.

"What kind of flower is this?" I asked Ruyi Mama, pointing at the porcelain bowl.

"This," Ruyi Mama's eyes flickered with nostalgia, "is the national flower of the Southern Chu Kingdom—the snow lotus. The old mistress treasured this bowl greatly, saying it was part of her dowry from her mother."

The snow lotus... what a beautiful name.

Slowly, through these scattered words and careful observations, I began to piece together some clues in my mind.

The Empress Dowager loved plum blossoms, snowy days, and the food from her homeland. Her hometown, the Southern Chu Kingdom, was abundant in snow lotuses, and judging from that painting, it must have snowed frequently there.

"Auntie Ruyi," I cautiously asked, "do you know what the Empress Dowager liked to eat most when she was a child?"

Auntie Ruyi thought for a moment, then said, "The old mistress occasionally mentioned a soup, called... what was it called again..."

She frowned, trying hard to recall, and after a long while, she said, "Ah, yes! It was called 'Snowfall and Plum Blossom Soup!' The old mistress said it was her favorite soup as a child, especially during snowy winters."

Snowfall and Plum Blossom Soup!

Just hearing the name, I could imagine the soup's enchanting flavor. It must have carried the fragrance of plum blossoms and the purity of snow, tasting like the poetry of an entire winter.

"Do you know how to make this soup?" I asked excitedly.

Madam Ruyi shook her head: "I don’t know. The Southern Chu Kingdom has been gone for so many years, and those recipes were lost long ago. My old master would occasionally sigh, saying she would never taste that flavor again."

It’s been lost…

My heart felt heavy. If we could recreate this 'Snowfall Plum Soup,' it would surely lift the Empress Dowager’s spirits! But without the recipe, what can I do?

Just as I was struggling with this, Starson appeared.

"Any ideas?" he asked.

I told him everything I had learned, including the lost 'Snowfall Plum Soup.'

After listening, Starson pondered for a while and said, "Maybe we should check the Royal Library."

"The Royal Library?"

"It houses documents from various kingdoms. Perhaps we can find records of Southern Chu’s recipes there."

Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? Since the Southern Chu Kingdom once existed, there must be literature documenting their culture and customs!

Then, under Starson's guidance, I arrived at the Royal Library.

This place was truly breathtaking! Countless bookshelves soared into the clouds, each row filled with a variety of books. The air was filled with the scent of ancient paper, evoking a sense of reverence.

"The information on the Southern Chu Kingdom should be in this area," Starson pointed to a corner and said, "Take your time looking. I'll wait for you outside."

I began to wander through the shelves, searching for any materials related to the Southern Chu Kingdom.

Most of them were records on politics and military affairs, which were useless to me. What I needed was information about folk customs and cuisine.

I searched and searched until my eyes were almost blurred.

Just as I was about to give up, I discovered a tattered ancient book on the bottom shelf of the farthest corner—"Records of Southern Chu Customs."

"Records of Southern Chu Customs"! The title alone sounded promising!

I carefully took out the book, only to find it was already quite worn, with some pages even missing a corner. But this was the most relevant material I could find.

I eagerly flipped through the pages, reading each one attentively.

The book documented the mountains, rivers, geography, customs, and some distinctive foods of the Southern Chu Kingdom. Most of the content was brief, with just a few lines of description.

Finally, in the latter half of the book, I found it!

"Snowfall Plum Congee, the premier winter dish of Southern Chu. Use snow lotus petals, plum flower stamens, paired with..."

Damn it! The following text had been eaten by insects and was illegible!

I carefully deciphered the fragmented words, barely making out phrases like "...sweet as snow...warms the stomach and drives away the cold...longing for you yet unseen..."

Although the recipe was incomplete, at least I now knew the main ingredients: snow lotus petals and plum flower stamens.

I've seen snow lotus petals in the imperial pharmacy; although rare, they should be obtainable. As for plum blossom stamens, they are readily available in the garden outside.

The rest will rely on my taste imagination and culinary intuition.

According to the book's description, this soup should be "clear and sweet as snow," indicating a light flavor, not too rich. The phrase "warming the stomach and dispelling cold" suggests it has warming and nourishing properties.

I closed my eyes and began to envision the taste of this soup in my mind.

The snow lotus petals should have an elegant fragrance, subtle and pure like snowflakes. The plum blossom stamens would add a hint of sweet and sour, giving the soup complexity.

But these two alone are not enough; there must be other ingredients to balance the flavor.

What could they be?

I recalled the furnishings in the Empress Dowager's room, the stories told by Nurse Ruyi, and the painting of the plum forest in the snow...

Suddenly, I had an inspiration!

Perhaps this soup still needs some ingredients that represent "snow," such as white fungus or lotus seeds. And since it's called "Seeking Plum," maybe it also requires something like plums or plum blossom honey.

I excitedly closed the book and prepared to start my experiment.

"Found it?" Starson asked as he saw me coming out.

"I found some clues, but they're incomplete," I answered truthfully. "But I want to try and recreate it based on these clues."

Starson nodded, "Do you need my help with anything?"

"Can you get me some snow lotus petals? And also high-quality lotus seeds and white fungus."

"No problem."

With Starson's help, I quickly gathered all the ingredients I needed.

Back in the imperial kitchen, I began the long process of experimentation.

For the first attempt, I followed the most basic idea, boiling snow lotus petals for the soup and adding plum stamens for flavor.

The result... it was too bland, and there was a strange bitterness.

The second attempt, I added lotus seeds and white fungus, hoping to enhance the sweetness and texture.

The result was slightly better, but something was still missing.

On the third try, I remembered plum blossom honey and decided to add some to the mixture.

The flavor became more balanced, but it still lacked a certain "warming" quality for the stomach.

I paused to think. What could maintain lightness while also warming the stomach?

Suddenly, ginger came to mind! But ginger's flavor is too strong and doesn't suit this delicate soup.

Then... honey? No, too sweet.

Osmanthus flowers? Too fragrant.

Just as I was deep in thought, Jade walked in.

"Fenglin, what are you doing? Why does the whole room smell like flowers?"

The scent of flowers?

I suddenly realized that while cooking the soup, the aroma from the plum blossom stamens was indeed very strong. But what should the true "Searching for Plum Blossoms in Falling Snow Soup" really smell like?

I remembered the faint scent of plum blossoms in the Empress Dowager's room, the look on her face as she gazed at the snowy scenery outside the window...

Perhaps, what this soup needed was not a strong aroma, but a subtle aftertaste. Like memories, faint yet endlessly evocative.

I started over, this time controlling the heat, letting the snow lotus petals and plum flower stamens simmer slowly over low fire, releasing their most essential parts.

When the soup turned a faint milky white and emitted a barely detectable floral fragrance, I knew I was halfway to success.

The rest was the most crucial part: seasoning.

I closed my eyes and imagined the scene of a little girl drinking soup on a snowy day. Snowflakes danced outside, while the room was as warm as spring, a bowl of hot soup dispelling all the chill...

What taste should that feeling have?

Warmth, sweetness, and a faint sense of nostalgia...

I opened my eyes and added a hint of honey, a bit of lemon juice, and a thin slice of lemon peel to the soup.

The sweet and sour taste of the lemon balanced the cloying floral aroma, while the fragrance of the lemon peel added depth to the soup.

Finally, I gently sprinkled a few snow lotus petals on the surface of the soup, like snowflakes falling on it.

Done!

I carefully held the bowl of "Snowfall Seeking Plum Soup," my heart filled with unease.

Was this really the taste from the Empress Dowager's memory?

There was only one way to find out.